In this study, sub-micron sized silica particles were encapsulated with nanosized titania particles using an aqueous TiCL solution. The particle size distribution of the synthesized titania particles in the coating layer was estimated to be 10 am from Xray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The thickness of the coating layer ranged from a few nm to about 30 nm from transmission electron microscopy analysis. Zeta potential analysis demonstrated the presence of a titania particle coating layer and the extent of its coverage on the surface of silica particles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis also demonstrated that titania particles were successfully deposited on the surface of core silica particles from the chemical shift of binding energies of O 1s, Ti 2p and Si 2p. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.