Microporous titanium dioxide thin films have been fabricated on titanium plates by the micro-plasma oxidation method with different current density (5,10 and 15 A/dm(2)). X-Ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy and UV-Vis spectrophotometry was used to characterize the films. The results indicate that the number and size of micropores and the crystallinity of the anatase and rutile TiO2 phases have increased with the current density. Degradation of Rhodamine B dye was used to test the photocatalytic activity of the films. The relatively better degradation efficiency compared with Rhodamine B mineralization was obtained with the sample produced with a current density of 10 A/dm(2). This behavior of the films is ascribed to the larger specific surface area and the higher crystallinity of anatase TiO2. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.