The direct voltammetry of catalase (CAT) immobilized in silica sol-gel film in the presence of cysteine on gold electrode was investigated. The CAT electrode showed a pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetry peaks. It can be used as an electrochemical biosensor for the determination of hydrogen peroxide. The calibration range of H(2)O(2) was from 1 to 30 micromolL(-1) and the detection limit was 0.4 micromolL(-1) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The interaction of CAT and aluminum ion was also investigated based on the CAT-modified electrode. The electrochemical activity of the CAT-modified electrode was increased with the addition of Al(3+). The experimental results of voltammetry and fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that the conformation of CAT molecule was altered by the formation of Al-CAT complex with Al(3+), which may influence the activity of CAT.