A series of mesoporous titania materials modified with tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) were successfully synthesized by using urea as low-cost template via sol-gel reactions, followed by removing the urea by extraction with water. They were characterized by FT-IR, P-31 MAS-NMR, XRD, DTA-TGA, DRS, TEM and BET. The samples presented mesopores with a diameter higher than 3.0 nm. The S-BET of the solids decreases with the increase of the TPA content and with the increase of the calcination temperature. According to FT-IR and P-31 MAS-NMR studies the main species present in the samples is [PW12O40](3-) anions, which was partially transformed into [P2W21O71](6-) and [PW11O39](7-) anion during the synthesis and drying step. The XRD patterns of the modified samples only exhibited the characteristic peaks of anatase phase. The presence of TPA retarded the crystallization of the anatase phase and its transformation into rutile phase. The point of zero charge decreased in parallel with the increment of tungstophosphoric acid in the samples and with the increase of the calcination temperature. The band gap energy decreased as a result of the introduction of TPA into the TiO2 matrix, but remained practically constant with the increase of the calcination temperature. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.