1-D mesoporous TiO2 nanotube (TNT) with large BET surface area was successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal-calcination process, and employed for simultaneous photocatalytic H-2 production and Cu2+ removal from water. Cu2+, across a wide concentration range of 8-800 ppm, was removed rapidly from water under irradiation. The removed Cu2+ then combined with TNT to produce efficient Cu incorporated TNT (Cu-TNT) photocatalyst for H-2 production. Average H-2 generation rate recorded across a 4 h reaction was between 15.7 and 40.2 mmol h(-1) g(catalyst)(-1), depending on initial Cu2+/Ti ratio in solution, which was optimized at 10 atom%. In addition, reduction process of Cu2+ was also a critical factor in governing H-2 evolution. In comparison with P25, its large surface area and 1-D tubular structure endowed TNT with higher photocatalytic activity in both Cu2+ removal and H-2 production. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.