Anatase titania (TiO(2)) particles were synthesized from titanium(IV) chloride (TiCl(4)) and oxygen (O(2)) through an improved gas-phase reaction process under rapid heating and rapid quenching conditions. The obtained particles were decahedral-shaped highly crystalline particles with specific surface area of 5-40m(2) g(-1). These particles exhibited a level of photocatalytic activity higher than the representative commercial TiO(2) photocatalysts for oxidative decomposition of acetic acid in an aqueous solution and acetaldehyde in air. Their higher level of activity is considered to be due to a combination of their moderate specific surface area and high crystallinity. (C) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.