The present study reports the synthesis and formation process of mesoporous core-shell TiO2 nanostructures by employing a glucose-assisted solvothermal process using water-ethanol mixture as solvent and subsequent calcination process at 550 degrees C for 4 h. X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis were used to investigate the structural properties of these nanostructures. By optimizing the preparation conditions, especially the contents of water and ethanol in the mixture solvent, mesoporous core-shell TiO2 nanostructures were obtained. These mesoporous nanostructures have anatase phase and exhibit the superior photocatalytic activity. This synthesis route is facile due to the usage of stable and low-cost Ti precursor such as TiCl3 and is thus applicable for large-scale production. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.