Four kinds of lanthanide ions(Sm3+,Yb3+,Eu3+,La3+) as an additive were added into the aqueous solution containing methanol,respectively,and their effects on methanol elecotrooxidation in aqueous solutions were studied with cyclic voltammetry.The results show that the four kinds of ions have promotion action upon the electrooxidation of methanol to different degrees.The best additive,Sm3+,can increase the anodic oxidation current of methanol by 80% and the peak potential shifted negatively about 50 mV.The promotion effects of the lanthanide ions were considered to be related to the extranuclear electron distribution of these ions and their adsorption on the Pt electrode surface.