Sn4+ doped and undoped nano-TiO2, particles easily dispersed in water were synthesized without using organic solvent by hydrothermal process. Nanostructure-TiO2 based thin films were prepared on flyswatter substrate, made with stainless steel, by dip-coating technique. The structure, surface and optical properties of the particles and thin films were characterized by element analysis and XRD, BET, SEM and UV/vis/NIR techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the films were tested for degradation of Malachite Green dye in solution under UV and vis-lights. The results showed that the coated flyswatter has a very high photocatalytic performance for the photodegradation of Malachite Green irradiated with UV and vis-lights. The results also proved that the hydrothermally synthesized nano-TiO2 particles are fully anatase crystalline form and are easily dispersed in water, the coated surfaces are hydrophilic, and the doping of transition metal ion efficiently improved the degradation performance of TiO2-coated flyswatter. The photocatalytic performances determined at both irradiation conditions were very good and were almost similar to each other for Sn4+ doped TiO2-coated flyswatter and it can be repeatedly used with increasing photocatalytic activity compared to undoped TiO2-coated flyswatter. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.