Real-time　and　rapid　determination　of　trace　copper　ion　(Cu2+)　in　the　electrolyte　of　zinc　smelting　process　is　urgently　needed.　However,　the　complicated　composition　of　the　electrolyte,　especially　the　extremely　high-concentration　of　zinc　ion　(Zn2+)　may　cause　severe　interference　to　the　detection　of　Cu2+.　This　work　describes　a　facile　electrochemical　sensor　for　Cu2+　determination　in　the　electrolyte　of　zinc　smelting　plants　based　on　a　fluorine-doped　tin　oxide　(FTO)　electrode　with　silver　nanowires　(AgNWs)　and　Nafion　modification.　The　AgNWs/Nafion-FTO　electrode　showed　good　detection　ability　with　the　linear　detection　range　of　0.2−2　mg　l−1　Cu2+　in　45　g　l−1　Zn2+　solution　using　differential　pulse　anodic　stripping　voltammetry　(DPASV)　technique.　With　DPASV　technique,　Cu2+　can　be　first　reduced　and　pre-concentrated　on　the　working　electrode　surface　at　−0.6　V　vs　Ag/AgCl　for　500　s,　after　which　the　deposited　Cu　metal　is　oxidized　around　0　V　vs　Ag/AgCl　during　the　stripping　step.　It　has　been　proved　by　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectra　(XPS)　that　trace　Cu2+　can　be　adsorbed　and　reduced　on　AgNWs　in　solutions　with　Zn/Cu　ratio　up　to　(2.25−22.5)　×　104.　The　results　extend　AgNWs　modified　electrode　to　the　industrial　solution,　providing　a　new　strategy　for　detection　of　trace　metal　ions　in　industrial　solutions.　©　2023　The　Electrochemical　Society　(“ECS”).　Published　on　behalf　of　ECS　by　IOP　Publishing　Limited.