Titanate/anatase　nanocomposites　consisting　of　titanate　nanotubes　and　leaf-like　anatase　TiO2　nanoparticles　were　successfully　prepared　via　a　novel　combinational　hydrothermal　method.　The　samples　were　characterized　by　means　of　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM).　The　activity　of　the　nanocomposites　was　examined　by　photocatalytic　decolorization　of　rhodamine　B　under　visible　light　irradiation.　It　is　found　that　the　nanocomposites　exhibited　a　much　improved　photocatalytic　activity　in　comparison　with　titanate　nanotube,　anatase　TiO2　nanoparticle,　and　even　the　commercial　Degussa　P-25.　The　photocatalytic　mechanism　of　the　as-prepared　nanocomposites　was　discussed.　(C)　2007　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.