A new mono-functionalized porphyrin derivative, 5-mono-[4-(2-(4-hydroxy)-phenoxy)ethoxy]-10,15,20- triphenylporphyrin (3) and its Cu(II) (3a), Zn(II) (3b) and Ni(II) (3c) metalloporphyrins were synthesized and characterized by using various spectroscopic techniques. The corresponding 3a, 3b, 3c-TiO2 photocatalysts were then prepared and characterized by means of FT-IR and diffused reflectance spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic activities of 3a, 3b, 3c-TiO2 were investigated by testing the photodegradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in aqueous solution under the halogen lamp irradiation. The results indicated that all the 3a, 3b, 3c enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency of bare TiO2 in photodegrading the 4-NP, and 3a-TiO2 exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity. The result is considered a combined action of potential match of 3a with TiO2 CB and effective impregnated of 3a onto the surface of TiO2. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.