Mesoporous SiO2 aerogel/WxTiO2 nanocomposites with high adsorptivity and photocatalytic activity were prepared by hydrothermal deposition method using SiO2 aerogel as carrier. The morphology and microstructure of the SiO2 aerogel/WxTiO2 nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and N-2 adsorption measurements. The results indicated that the SiO2 aerogel/WxTiO2 nanocomposites exhibited sponge-like network-structure with higher pore volume and anatase TiO2 crystallinity. Increasing the SiO2 aerogel content and ethanol/water volume ratio in the precursor solution is favorable for improving the specific surface area and pore volume of SiO2 aerogel/WxTiO2 composite particles. Under the conditions of Si/Ti mol ratio >0.6 and ethanol/water volume ratio > 1: 3, the specific surface area and pore volume of the as-prepared SiO2 aerogel/WxTiO2 nanocomposites could attain to 195.7-271.3 m(2)/g and 0.86-1.11 mL/g, respectively. Moreover, the as-prepared SiO2 aerogel/WxTiO2 nanocomposites exhibited higher adsorptivity and photocatalytic activity. Particularly, the synthesized SiO2 aerogel/WxTiO2 nanocomposite sample 0.9STW-1:3 (V-ethanol/V-water = 1/3) exhibited highest efficiency for removing the Rhodamine B in the simulated wastewater. In addition, the as-prepared SiO2 aerogel/WxTiO2 composites still exhibited higher adsorption efficiency and photocatalytic activity after 4 cycles. (C) 2016 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.