Thiocyanate ion is used its an analytical probe to examine the electrocatalytic properties of gold electrodes sequentially modified with cysteamine (Cys), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and octa(hydroxyethylthio)phthalocyaninatoiron(II) (FeOHETPc) (i.e., Au-Cys-SWCNT-FeOHETPc) and tetraaminophthalocyaninatoiron(II) (FeTAPc) (i.e.. Au-Cys-SWCNT-FeTAPc). We show that SWCNT-FeOHETPc hybrid exhibits greater sensitivity towards the detection of thiocyanate compared to electrodes containing SWCNT or FeTAPc or FeOHETPC only, indicating the ability of the SWCNTs to function as effective conductive nanowires for the detection of this important analyte. The electrochemical response of the FeOHETPc-based electrodes was greater than their FeTAPc-based electrode counterparts, indicative of the impact of peripheral substituents on the phthalocyanine core towards electrocatalytic behaviour of these types of hybrids. Electrocatalytic evidence suggests typical EC mechanism. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.