Micro-arc oxidation method is a useful process for mesoporous titanium dioxide films. In order to improve the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 film, N-Eu co-doped titania catalyst was synthesized by micro-arc oxidation in the H2SO4/Eu(NO3)(3) mixture solution. The specific surface area and the roughness of the anodic titania film fabricated in the H2SO4/Eu(NO3)(3) electrolyte, were increased compared to that of the anodic TiO2 film prepared in H2SO4 solution. The absorbance response of N-Eu titania film shows a higher adsorption onset toward visible light region, and the incorporated N and Eu ions during anodization as a dopant in the anodic TiO2 film significantly enhanced the photocatalytic activity for dye degradation. After dye decomposition test for 3 h, dye removal rates for the anodic TiO2 film were 60.7% and 90.1% for the N-Eu doped titania film. The improvement of the photocatalytic activity was ascribed to the synergistic effects of the surface enlargement and the new electronic state of the TiO2 band gap by N and Eu co-doping. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.