The functionalized carbon nanotube electrode was fabricated by electrodeposition of 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonic acid sodium (Nq) on single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). This electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the results showed that Nq can rapidly and effectively be deposited on the surface of SWNT film with high stability. The electrochemical properties of functionalized SWNT/GCE with Nq (SWN'I'-Nq/GCE) were studied using cyclic voltammetry. double step potential chronoamperometry and differential Pulse voltammetry methods. The results indicated that SWNT could improve the electrochemical behavior of Nq and greatly enhances its redox peak currents. The SWNT-Nq/GCE exhibited a pair of well-defined redox peaks. The experimental results also demonstrated that the Nq deposited species oil SWNT could catalyze cysteamine oxidation and SWNT-Nq exhibited a high performance with lowering the overpotential by more than 710 mV. The effect of pH value, number of scans and Nq concentration were investigated on the electrochemical behavior of cysteamine. The selectivity of the reaction has been assessed with no interference from tyrosine, lysine, methionine, tryptophan, alanine and glutathione. The presented method has highly selectivity for voltammetric detection of cysteamine in the dynamic range from 5.0 x 10(-6) M to 2.7 x 10(-4) M and with a detection of limit (3 sigma) 3.0 x 10(-6) M. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.