A silver nanoparticle/silver titanium phosphate-nanocomposite nanobelt thin film was synthesized on a titanium plate by Ag+ ion exchange treatment of a titanium phosphate (Ti2O3(H2PO4)(2).2H(2)O) nanobelt thin film. Silver nanoparticles with sizes ranging from several nanometers to a few dozen nanometers were regioselectively deposited along the edges of the nanobelts to form the nanocomposite. The coexisting anions in the solution played a crucial role in the Ag+ ion exchange reaction. In the presence of CH3COO- anions, Ag+ ions were intercalated into the titanium phosphate nanobelts through ion exchange between Ag+ and the H+ in the H2PO4 group of Ti2O3(H2PO4)(2).2H(2)O, along with an accompanying change in the crystal structure of titanium phosphate. The silver nanoparticle/silver titanium phosphate-nanocomposite nanobelt thin film showed excellent antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, although the titanium phosphate nanobelt thin film possessed no antibacterial activity. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.