the problem with the production of ozone at high current densities is twofold the first problem is related to the anode stability very few types of anodes are stable enough to withstand high current densities for instance in a cell configuration containing an anode and a cathode separated by a fluoropolymer copolymer membrane pt anodes are relatively common however pt anodes while very stable under normal conditions at high current densities they degrade and form pt oxide particles that detach from the electrode and damage irreversibly the membrane hence reducing dramatically the lifetime of the apparatus and limiting considerably the efficiency of ozone production the second problem associated with high current densities is related to the drop in ozone production with respect to oxygen production the oxidation potential of ozone formation is actually significantly higher than that of oxygen evolution consequently oxygen evolution is thermodynamically more favorable than ozone formation anodes that exhibit low oxygen evolution potentials will not produce much ozone and most of the current will be used primarily for the formation of oxygen the ozone production apparatus and method of the invention maybe used with any type of electrolyte membrane commonly known in the art in certain embodiments the ozone production apparatus and method of the invention utilize a polymer electrolyte membrane pem that separates the catholyte from the anolyte conventional electrolyte membranes include poly perfluorosulfonic acid membranes including but not limited to as nafion u00ae dupont aciplex asahi chemical company flemion asahi glass company styrene based membranes including but not limited to bam ballard sebs dias analytic and poly arylene ether membranes including but not limited to poly arylene ether ether ketone and poly arylene ether sulfone in one aspect the invention provides an apparatus for the production of ozone.