TiO2 nanotubes were first synthesized through hydrothermal treatment of rutile-phase TiO2 nanoparticles in 10 mol l(-1) NaOH solution at 130 degrees C for 24 h. And then, cerium doped titania nanotubes (Ce-TiO2 nanotubes) were prepared by impregnation method, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Fourier transfer infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, BET surface area and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Structure, morphology, composition, and visible light absorption property of Ce-TiO2 nanotubes are found to be strongly dependent on the cerium doping content and calcination temperature. The photocatalytic activities of Ce-TiO2 nanotubes were investigated by the degradation of glyphosate. The results show that cerium doping enhanced the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanotubes, and the glyphosate on Ce-TiO2 nanotubes was effectively decomposed through photocatalytic oxidation. 0.15% Ce-TiO2 nanotubes annealed at 400 degrees C show the best photocatalytic activity, and the degradation rate of glyphosate is 76% under the irradiation for 1 h. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.