Binary Al2O3/SiO2-coated rutile TiO2 composites were prepared by a liquid-phase deposition method starting from Na2SiO3 center dot 9H(2)O and NaAlO2. The chemical structure and morphology of binary Al2O3/SiO2 coating layers were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, TG-DSC, Zeta potential, powder X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. Binary Al2O3/SiO2 coating layers both in amorphous phase were formed at TiO2 surfaces. The silica coating layers were anchored at TiO2 surfaces via Si-O-Ti bonds and the alumina coating layers were probably anchored at the SiO2-coated TiO2 surfaces via Al-O-Si bonds. The formation of continuous and dense binary Al2O3/SiO2 coating layers depended on the pH value of reaction solution and the alumina loading. The binary Al2O3/SiO2-coated TiO2 composites had a high dispersibility in water. The whiteness and brightness of the binary Al2O3/SiO2-coated TiO2 composites were higher than those of the naked rutile TiO2 and the SiO2-coated TiO2 samples. The relative light scattering index was found to depend on the composition of coating layers. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.