Gold nanopillar array electrodes were prepared by electrochemical deposition of gold into the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide membrane placed onto the gold thin film electrode surface, which was in advance modified with cystearnme self-assembled monolayer as an anchoring layer. The Au nanopillar electrode is electrochemically stable and consists of highly dense, upstanding pillars assembled on the cystearnme monolayer. The structural morphology and chemical composition of the nanoarray electrode was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical measurements indicate that the An nanopillar electrode possesses high electrocatalytic activities in the reduction of hydrogen peroxide and molecular oxygen, especially in glucose oxidation due to its higher electroactive surface area. The electro-oxidation studies of several clectroactive neurotransmitters demonstrate that the nanopillar electrode can be utilized as a promising material for the construction of novel electrochemical sensor. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.