A modified electrode was proposed based on the sequential coating to immobilize both p-benzoquinone (BZQ) and glucose oxidase (GOD). Three electrodes, A, B, and C, were prepared separately by drop-coating the BZQ solution dissolved in different solvents on the stainless-steel/carbon (ssteel/C). Among those three electrodes, electrode B shows the best sensitivity of 2.21 mA M-1 cm(-2), a linear concentration range of 1.1-15 mM and a response time of 100 Sat a sensing potential of 0.3 V. The responses of interferences, including ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid and acetaminophen, were similar to 0%, 1.4%, similar to 0% and 3%, respectively, taken the sensing current at 6.0 mM glucose as 100%. In a test of the human blood sample, an error of +3.6% was noticed for electrode B. Besides, for the biofuel cell application, maximum power densities reached 18.9 and 22.5 mu W/cm(2) at 25 and 37 degrees C, respectively, with an all-solution-type biocathode. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.