TiO2 nanorods (NRs) were synthesized on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) pre-coated glass substrates using hydrothermal growth technique. Scanning electron microscopy studies have revealed the formation of vertically-aligned TiO2 NRs with length of similar to 2 mu m and diameter of 110128 nm, homogenously distributed over the substrate surface. 130 nm thick Au contacts using thermal evaporation were deposited on the n-type TiO2 NRs at room temperature for the fabrication of NR-based Schottky-type UV photodetectors. The fabricated Schottky devices functioned as highly sensitive UV photodetectors with a peak responsivity of 134.8 A/W (lambda = 350 nm) measured under 3 V reverse bias. (c) 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim