A highly sensitive electrochemical sensor, EBT/LDH ultrathin film, for salicylic acid (SA) was fabricated in a facile way based on multilayer ultrathin films (UTFs) containing Eriochrome black T anions (EBT) and exfoliated Ni-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets via layer-by-layer self-assembly technique. The XRD pattern confirms that the products are nickel aluminum hydrotalcites, and SEM images shows continuous and uniform film surface. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Current - time (i-T) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) methods were used to characterize the electrochemical behavior of the ultrathin film. The electrode modified with ultrathin film displays significantly high electrocatalytic performance for SA with sensitivity of 860 mu AmM-1 cm(-2), large concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 100 mu M and with low detection limit 0.003 mu M (S/N = 3). The EBT/LDH ultrathin film is shown to be a feasible electrochemical sensor for detection of SA. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.