This　communication　reports　a　novel　electrochemiluminescence　(ECL)　sensor　based　on　covalently　linking　bis(2,2′-bipyridine)-5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline　ruthenium(II)　(Ru(II)-NH2)　with　graphite　oxide　(GO)　on　a　glassy　carbon　electrode.　1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide　hydrochloride　and　N-hydroxy-succinimide　were　applied　to　activate　the　carboxyl　groups　on　the　GO　surface　and　catalyze　the　formation　of　amido　link　between　Ru(II)-NH2　and　carboxyl　groups　on　GO.　The　composite　film　was　characterized　using　atomic　force　microscopy,　transmission　electron　microscopy　and　Fourier　transform　infrared　absorption　spectroscopy.　Based　on　ECL　experimental　results,　the　composite　film　modified　electrode　displayed　high　electrochemical　activity　towards　the　oxidation　of　2-(dibutylamino)　ethanol　(DBAE).　Under　optimized　conditions,　the　linear　response　of　ECL　intensity　to　DBAE　concentration　was　valid　in　the　range　6.0×10-7-2.0×10-4molL-1　(r2=0.9948)　with　a　detection　limit　(S/N=3)　of　5.0×10-8molL-1.　Furthermore,　the　ECL　sensor　presented　good　characteristics　in　terms　of　stability　and　reproducibility,　promising　the　development　of　ECL　sensors　for　biologically　important　compounds.　©　2010　Elsevier　B.V.