PMo12O403- anion modified electrodes were prepared by simply immersing the glassy carbon electrode in the saturated BMIM+BF4- ionic liquid solution of polyoxometalates (POMs). The electrochemical properties of the as-prepared POM-modified glassy carbon electrode were investigated by cyclic voltarnmetry, which not only displayed a reversible redox electrochemical behavior and high stability in aqueous solutions, but also exhibited a good elect rocata lytic activity toward the reduction of nitrite. Because of the simpleness of the preparation method, stable and reproducible electrochemical properties of the as-prepared POMs modified electrode, the proposed strategy shows remarkable advantages and should be important for practical applications. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.