The electrochemical reduction of benzaldehyde using Pt-Pb/Nafion(R) as electrode without supporting electrolyte in the liquid organic phase was investigated. A novel Pt-Pb/Nafion(R) electrode was prepared for the electrolysis of the organic compound in this solid polymer electrolyte (SPE(R)) system. A reaction mechanism is proposed. No benzyl alcohol was produced using fresh Nafion(R) as electrode. The selectivity of benzyl alcohol using Pt-Pb/Nafion(R) as an electrode was almost 100% and only a trace of hydrobenzoin byproduct was found in the catholyte. The optimum faradic yield of benzyl alcohol was 18.70 g F-1. The primary factors affecting the current efficiency or faradic yield of the cathodic reduction of benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol were cell voltage, solvent and temperature. The use of a Pt-Pb/Nafion(R) electrode in a SPE(R) system for the electrochemical reduction of benzaldehyde was found to be a feasible technique.