A simple, sensitive, and reliable method based on a multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) modified carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) has been successfully developed for determination of dopamine (DA) in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA). The acid-treated MWNTs with carboxylic acid functional groups could promote the electron-transfer reaction of DA and inhibit the voltammetric response of AA. Due to the good performance of the ionic liquid, the electrochemical response of DA on the MWNTs/CILE was better than that of other MWNTs modified electrodes. Under the optimum conditions a linear calibration plot was obtained in the range 5.0 x 10(-8) to 2.0 x 10(-4) mol L(-1) and the detection limit was 1.0 x 10(-8) mol L(-1). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.