A synthesis of highly dispersed nanocrystalline materials based on titanium dioxide in aqueous media at neutral pH has been developed. The surface modification of TiO2 with tiron, ascorbic acid and rutin afforded colored, transparent, colloidal solutions. Stability of yellow-orange colloids at pH = 7 has been achieved. Photoactivity of materials has been assessed by photocurrent measurements. For all modified materials visible light induced photocurrents have been recorded. The photocurrents were significantly amplified in the presence of dissolved oxygen due to O-2 reduction to superoxide. The studied materials have been used to prepare thin films on glass substrates applying spin coating technique. Fabrication of visible light responsive thin films, well bound to the substrate, involves synthesis of films of unmodified TiO2, followed by their sintering and impregnation with the solutions of modifiers. SEM images showed the formation of compact layers of titanium dioxide with particles of diameter within 15-30 nm. The photocatalytic activity of synthesized films has been demonstrated in the reaction of terephthalic acid oxidation to 2-hydroxyterephthalic acid, proving photogeneration of hydroxyl radicals upon visible light irradiation (lambda>400 nm). (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.