Reduced graphene oxide/meso-TiO2/AuNPs (RGO/meso-TiO2/AuNPs) ternary composites were prepared via the addition of graphene oxide to the dispersion of meso-TiO2/AuNPs under hydrothermal conditions. The structure and the morphology of the RGO/meso-TiO2/AuNPs materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic activity of RGO/meso-TiO2/AuNPs was evaluated by degradation of methyl blue (MB) under visible-light illumination. The ternary composites present an extended light absorption range, efficient charge separation properties, high adsorption ability for MB and high photocatalytic degradation activity of MB compared to the meso-TiO2 and meso-TiO2/AuNPs. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.