Anatase TiO2 nanoparticles were uniformly coated on the surface of the titanate nanorods using TiF4 and H3BO3 as the precursors via a simple solution route. The prepared samples were characterized with SEM, XRD, TEM, HRTEM and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms and their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by photocatalytic decolorization of methyl orange aqueous solution. The effects of the precursor concentration, deposition time and deposition temperature on the morphology and phase structure of the TiO2 nanoparticle-coated titanate nanorods were investigated. Compared with the titanate nanorods, the novel TiO2 nanoparticle-coated titanate nanorods showed an obvious increase in the specific surface area and pore volume due to the formation of TiO2 nanoparticles (10-50 nm) on the surface of the titanate nanorods. Moreover, the TiO2 nanoparticle-coated titanate nanorods, which could be readily separated after photocatalytic reaction, exhibited highly photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methyl orange aqueous solution. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.