Mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared via a sol-gel process using tetra-n-butyl titanate as a titanium source and ethanol-diethyl ether as a binary solvent system at room temperature. The structure of the nanoparticles was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, and N-2 adsorption-desorption analysis. These mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles were of anatase form and featured an ordered pore size distribution. The photocatalytic degradation ability of the mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles was superior to that of commercial TiO2 P-25. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.