The CeO2 nanoparticle-decorated graphene hybrid was prepared by hydro-thermal method and their application in electrochemical detection of heavy metal ions was investigated. It was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrochemical behavior of four heavy metal ions (cadmium(II), lead(II), copper(II), and mercury(II)) on the graphene/CeO2 hybrid nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was investigated in acetate buffer solution by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetric (DPASV). Compared with the bare GCE, the proposed electrode showed improved analytical performance characteristics in detecting heavy metal ions. By using DPASV method, it shows that the graphene/CeO2 hybrid nanocomposite modified GCE could be used for tracing Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, and Hg2+ simultaneously and selectively. Under optimum conditions, we can detect Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, and Hg2+ simultaneously with high sensitivity in low concentration in the experiments. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.