A nanocomposite of SnO(2) nanoparticles coated on multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT@SnO(2)) was synthesized and characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen physisorption measurements, photoluminescence. The results show that the SnO(2) nanoparticles with a narrow size of 4 nm are uniformly deposited on MWNT. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite was studied using methyl orange as a model organic pollutant. MWNT@SnO(2) exhibits much higher photocatalytic activity than that of commercial TiO(2) (P-25). The promotion is mainly contributed from electron transfer between SnO(2) and MWNT. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.