In the present work vertically aligned TiO2 nanorods were fabricated by anodization of Al/Ti dual layer structures. Anodization of Al leads to the formation of a porous alumina layer which is used as a template for the growth of TiO2 nanorods. We have studied the characteristics of these nanorods after annealing by high resolution TEM, showing a core-shell structure along the length of the nanorods formed from the expansion of the TiO2 nanorod into the alumina template during growth. Modification of the nanorods by spin coating of a solution of titanium isopropoxide (TIPO) in isopropanol yields enhanced photocatalytic activity up to 12 times due to the increase in surface area, light absorption volume, and the creation of a crystalline coating with an anatase-phase. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.