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Series of Pt/Pd–TiO₂ photocatalysts were obtained using the sol–gel method. The Pt/Pd–TiO₂ nanocomposites showed significant visible light photoactivity. X-ray diffraction, STEM microscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy and BET characterization allowed to conclude that the photocatalysts at the best performance had the anatase structure, 91 m²/g specific surface area, Pt/Pd alloy structure and 1–4 nm particle size. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by measuring the decomposition rate of phenol in 0.21 mM aqueous solution under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). The effect of platinum precursor, crystallite size of TiO₂ on photocatalytic activity of the Pt/Pd–TiO₂ nanocomposites was investigated. The best photocatalytic activity was observed for the sample Pt/Pd–TiO₂ modified with 0.5 mol% of platinum and 0.5 mol% of palladium. The average degradation rate of 6.84 μmol dm⁻³ min⁻¹ for phenol was about …