This study reports the electrochemical modification of glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface with the electro-polymerized form of 1,10-phenanthroline monohydrate (PMH), the characterization of this polyphenanthroline modified electrode (PPMH/GC) and the electroanalytical application suitable for the determination of Cd(II) ions. The PPMH/GC electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and atomic force microscopy and formation of polyphenanthroline layer grafted to surface of GC electrode was evidenced. Selectivity of PPMH/GC electrode towards heavy metal ions was investigated by square wave voltammetry. The PPMH/GC electrode was found to be suitable for selective determination of Cd(II) in the solutions containing the mixture of heavy metal ions and showed high stability and reproducibility. The analytical methodology was successfully applied for monitoring the toxic metal ions in real samples. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.