Titanium oxide films were formed on metallic titanium substrates by employing a thermal treatment at 800 degrees C under air atmosphere. Component and microstructure of the oxide films were characterized by XRD and SEM method. Water contact angles on titanium oxide film surface were measured in both dark and sunlight illumination condition. Corrosion tests were carried in seawater solution under different illuminate conditions. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques were used to study the changes on TiO2 film. Results indicated that: hydrophilicTiO(2) film suffered a severe photo-corrosion effect in seawater due to their semiconductor properties under sunlight condition, but the hydrophobic TiO2 film under dark condition exhibited a good corrosion resistance. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.