NaOH-promoted Pt/TiO2 catalysts are successfully prepared by a facile impregnation method assisted by NaOH and tested for the toluene oxidation reaction under visible light irradiation. Keeping molar ratio of Pt:Na = 1:8, the 0.1Pt-Na/TiO2 catalyst (0.1 mol% Pt) shows excellent catalytic performance with more than 60% of toluene conversion at 45 degrees C and achieving total toluene removal at 280 degrees C, which is significantly better than 0.1Pt/TiO2 catalyst. The structures and properties of catalysts are characterized by XRD, SEM, N-2 adsorption, XPS and UV-vis spectra. The positively charged Pt species stabilized by NaOH are the most active sites for photo-thermal catalyzing toluene oxidation. The influence of Pt loading and the effect of supports (active TiO2 and inert Al2O3) are also discussed.