Carbon modified TiO2 nanotube was successfully synthesized via anodic oxidation method and its photocatalytic activity was evaluated by photodegrading methylene blue. The full width at half maximum of carbon modified TiO2 nanotube is smaller than that of pristine TiO2 nanotube, indicating the fact that carbon modifying leads to the increase of TiO2 crystallinity. TiO2 nanotube modified by carbon has a great enhancement on visible light absorption while contrasting with the pristine TiO2 nanotube. A tentative mechanism for the enhancement of sunlight absorption is proposed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.