Anatase nanocrystals coated with thin and uniform carbon layer have been prepared directly by using molecular precursors of titanium tetrachloride as a titanium source and fructose as a carbon source in benzyl alcohol. The anatase nanoparticles thus prepared possess high crystallinity, and the carbonaceous species from the dehydrated sugar coat the nanoparticles and transform to uniform and thin carbon layer with graphitic nature. The thus prepared carbon-coated anatase nanocrystals exhibit fast adsorption of methylene blue with high capacity, and they also catalyze the photodecomposition of the dye with greatly enhanced activity. The synthesis route provides rational control over the properties of carbon-coated anatase nanocatalysts for practical applications. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.