Ordered mesoporous CeO2-TiO2 composites with 2D hexagonal structure and varied compositions were synthesized through a nanocasting route using ordered mesoporous SBA-15 as the template. X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra analysis techniques were used to characterize the samples. It is observed that the obtained CeO2-TiO2 composites have ordered 2D hexagonal mesostructures with high specific surface area and hierarchical porosity. Introduction of CeO2 species can effectively extend the spectral response from UV to visible area and enhance the surface chemisorbed oxygen of the ordered mesoporous TiO2. Due to the peculiar composition and structural characteristics, these ordered mesoporous CeO2-TiO2 composites exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity in the reduction of CO2 with H2O under simulated solar irradiation. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.