For the synthesis of a high-performance photocatalyst, titania nanotubular films deposited with noble metal particles were fabricated by a wetting and annealing process, and the surface characteristics of the TiO2 photocatalyst were investigated. To examine the photocatalytic properties, the efficiency of the dye decomposition rate was evaluated. The photocatalytic results confirmed the dye-destroying effectiveness of the titania nanotubular catalysts deposited with noble metal particles. The wetting and annealing process can be applied to produce a titania photocatalyst with high functional properties. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved