AbstractThe widely employed electroanalytical technique of adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdsSV) is critically assessed and evaluated at a wide and diverse range of unmodified and nano‐particle modified carbon electrodes using the analyte fipronil as a paradigmatic case. The generic electroanalytical performances of the nano‐particle modified electrodes are investigated and compared with the unmodified electrodes revealing similar LOD values and pointing to intrinsic limitations of AdsSV arising from the non‐independence of the Faradaic and capacitive signals during the stripping step. Methods for facilitating the adsorption or using different waveforms that may offer a more favourable limit of detection (LOD) at the nano‐particle modified electrodes are suggested and assessed, specifically the use of adsorption onto particles prior to their use for modifying electrodes and also the recently introduced method of semi‐circular voltammetry.