The influence of complexing agent diethanolamine (DEA) on the rate of dehydration due to hydrolysis in titania thin films prepared by non-aqua sol-gel process was investigated. The formation of complex with titanium precursor controls the rate of hydrolysis over wide range of temperature. The rate of hydrolysis with respect to complex formation and firing temperate was studied by using thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). The role of complexing agent in the crystallization of anatase and phase transformation to rutile was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Effect of complexing agent on the optical transmittance in the visible range was monitored by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. Photocatalytic performance of the titania films was measured using methylene blue (MB) as the model contaminant. Mechanical characteristics such as hardness and adhesion of the film were rated by using scratch tests as per ASTM standards. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.