TiO2-Fe2O3 composites of core-shell structure were synthesized by using surfactant-assisted preparation method. The shell on TiO2 surface was composed of small Fe2O3 nanoparticles with an average diameter of 12 nm. The thickness of Fe2O3 shell was controlled by varying the concentration of Fe salt and using CTAB as the surfactant and binder. After annealing at 450 degrees C, the crystal structures of composites were found to be anatase and hematite mixed phase. Composites showed the ferromagnetic property which is favorable in water treatment. The characteristics of composites were analyzed by using TEM, EDS, XRD, XPS, VSM and PL. As an application of TiO2-Fe2O3 composites in water treatment, their catalytic performances for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) were examined by using UV-Vis spectrophotometer under room light irradiation. TiO2-Fe2O3 composites prepared with CTAB exhibited high performance of MB photodegradation because of the effects of band edge shift and decrease of recombination attributed to the formation of Fe2O3 particles on TiO2 surface. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.