A 9, 10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) composite modified glassy carbon electrode was simply and conveniently fabricated by casting PQ and MWNTs composite onto the glassy carbon electrode surface. The electrochemical behavior and electrocatalytic property of so-formed electrode have been evaluated with cyclic voltammetry and amperometric experiments. The electrode as-prepared exhibits enhanced electrocatalytic behavior to the reduction of iodate and presents broader linear range, lower detection limit as well as better stability compared with other PQ-modified electrodes. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.