Titanate　nanotubes　were　prepared　by　using　a　hydrothermal　treatment　of　TiO2　(Degussa　P25)　with　NaOH　aqueous　solutions.　The　as-prepared　titanate　nanotubes　were　treated　with　H2SO4,　subsequently　sintered　at　different　temperatures.　The　results　of　physicochemical　characterization　and　photoactivity　analysis　revealed　that　the　sintering　temperature　remarkably　altered　the　phase　composition,　specific　surface　area,　microstructure,　sulfate　species　as　well　as　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　titanate　nanotubes　modified　with　sulfuric　acid.　The　sample　sintered　at　500°C　exhibited　much　higher　activity　and　better　stability　than　P25,　this　can　be　attributed　to　the　suitable　crystallization,　the　porous　structure　and　the　abundant　surface　hydroxyl　groups　as　well　as　the　active　sulfate　species.　As　the　sintering　temperature　increased　to　600°C　or　above,　the　sulfate　species　in　the　samples　decomposed,　TiO2　particles　grew　and　pore　structure　shrank,　resulting　in　the　poor　activities　of　the　samples.　©　2011　Elsevier　B.V.