A platinised TiO2/ITO film, Pt-TiO2/lTO, was prepared by a dip-coating and subsequent photodeposition procedure. Compared with bare TiO2/ITO film, Pt-TiO2/ITO film not only possesses a relative high photocatalytic activity but also shows a rather non-photocatalytic activity towards HCOOH degradation at room temperature and atmosphere pressure. The non-photocatalytic effect of platinised TiO2 was partly responsible for degradation of formic acid in the photocatalytic process. The non-photocatalytic activity of Pt-TiO2/ITO film is very dependent on its preparation method. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.