Hexagonal　Ag　nanoplates　(NPs)　were　synthesized　by　polyvinylpyrrolidone　(PVP)　and　trisodium　citrate　(TSC)　which　selectively　absorbed　to　Ag　(100)　and　Ag　(111)　surfaces,　then　were　anchored　to　graphene　(GN)　to　form　novel　Ag　NPs/GN　composite.　The　thickness　of　Ag　NPs　is　similar　to　4　nm　and　the　length　is　18-66　nm.　Transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　image　shows　that　the　plates　are　f-c-c　crystals　containing　(111)　facets　on　their　two　planar　surfaces.　Zeta　potential　indicated　that　the　surface　of　Ag　NPs/GN　is　negatively　charged　while　vanillin　is　positively　charged.　Thus　Ag　NPs/GN　modified　on　glass　carbon　electrodes　(GCE)　allowed　abundant　adsorption　for　vanillin　and　electron　transfer　between　vanillin　and　Ag　NPs/GN/GCE.　Square　wave　voltammetry　(SWV)　results　indicated　that　the　over　potential　on　Ag　NPs/GN/GCE　negatively　shifts　52　mV　than　that　on　Ag　NPs/GCE.　Ag　NPs/GN　with　enhanced　surface　area　and　good　conductivity　exhibited　an　excellent　electrocatalytic　activity　toward　the　oxidation　of　vanillin.　The　corresponding　linear　range　was　estimated　to　be　from　2　to　100　mu　M　(R-2　=　0.998),　and　the　detection　limit　is　332　x　10(-7)　M　(S/N　=　3).　The　as-prepared　vanillin　sensor　exhibits　good　selectivity　and　potential　application　in　practical　vanillin　determination.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.