We report, for the first time, on the effect of the cathode material in controlling the morphology and properties of TiO2 nanotube arrays fabricated by electrochemical anodization of Ti foil in both aqueous and ethylene glycol (EG) electrolytes. Some of the alternative less-expensive cathode materials result in TiO2 nanotube architectures and photoelectrochemical properties similar to or in some cases superior to those obtained using a Pt cathode. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.