Uniformly dispersed Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully loaded on both the outer and inner surface of the TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTs) through a simple polyol method. The as-prepared Ag/TiO2-NTs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-vis diffusion reflectance spectroscopy. Photoelectrochemical behaviors were investigated via photocurrent response and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Photocatalytic activity of Ag/TiO2-NTs was evaluated by degradation of acid orange II under visible light irradiation. The results showed that photocatalytic efficiency of Ag/TiO2-NTs is more than 5 times higher than that of pure TiO2 NTs. Comparing with the electrochemical deposition method, the photocatalytic activity of Ag/TiO2-NTs prepared by polyol method has been obviously increased. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.