Free sulfide anion (S2-) in alkaline media was determined using cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV) and a graphene oxide-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE/GO) electrodeposited with Ag, Au, or AuAg nanoparticles (NPs). Electrodeposition was achieved using cyclic voltammetry in dilute sulfuric acid containing AgNO3 and/or HAuCl4 center dot 4H(2)O in which thiourea was essential for stabilizing Ag+. The existence of GO resulted in higher density and more uniform distribution of NPs, compared with those electrodeposited on bare SPCE. The composite electrode SPCE/GO/AgNPs showed the greatest sensitivity but poorest reproducibility. The SPCE/GO/AuNPs, in contrast, showed the best reproducibility with a linear dynamic range of S2- from 6.25 to 400 mM and no significant interference from various inorganic anions and cations. EDTA, however, was essential to eliminate the interfering effects from metal cations. By co-depositing Au and Ag to form SPCE/GO/AuAgNPs, the sensitivity was significantly improved in contrast to SPCE/GO/AuNPs, and the reproducibility was approximately reserved. By using differential-pulse CSV (DPCSV), a linear dynamic range of 0.05 similar to 1.5 mu M was observed. A wider but two-segmented dynamic range, 0.5 similar to 12.5 and 12.5 similar to 312.5 mu M, was obtained by using liner-scan CSV (LSCSV). SPCE/GO/AuAgNPs, however, showed a poorer resistance against metal cationic interferents, compared with SPCE/GO/AuNPs, although EDTA was used. This study reveals a facile approach of preparing sensitive modified electrodes for the determination of S2- in alkaline aqueous media. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.