Stably self-cleaning (IL/TiO2), nanocomposites were prepared via electrostatic layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique. Positively charged [C(12)mim]Br and negatively charged TiO2 nanoparticles were alternatively adsorbed on the negative glass substrates to form (IL/TiO2)(n) layers. They were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Under the synergistic action of ionic liquids and TiO2 P25, in which TiO2 nanoparticles provided surface roughness while [C(12)mim]Br acted as lower surface tension material, glass coated with 13 bilayers of [C(12)mim]Br/TiO2 film arrived to superhydrophobicity with 151.7 +/- 2 degrees. Owing to the photoresponsive and photocatalytic properties of TiO2, (IL/TiO2), nanocomposites achieved the reversible superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic transition upon alternating UV irradiation and storage in the dark, and presented good performance for photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange with ultraviolet (UV) illumination. Significantly, they could be recycled for several times without obvious fatigue. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.