Abstract TiO 2 microtubes with a yam-like surface were prepared for the first time through a simple and efficient double soaking sol-gel route by utilizing Platanus acerifolia seed fibers as bio-templates. The physicochemical properties of the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) surface analysis and Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis). The results showed that the obtained TiO 2 microtubes had an anatase phase and were composed of a smooth internal wall and a rough yam-like external wall with an average diameter of 24 μm and the wall thickness of 2 μm. The surface area and pore volume of the as-prepared TiO 2 microtubes reached 128.271 m 2 /g and 0.149 cm 3 /g, respectively. The UV–vis analysis displayed a favorable extension of light absorption capacity of TiO 2 microtubes. The synthetic mechanism was preliminarily discussed as well. The moisture in the natural fiber templates facilitated the mild hydrolysis of titanium sol, leaving a prime layer on the surface of the fibers, and subsequently assisted in the successful preparation of TiO 2 microtubes with a yam-like surface without requiring specific control of hydrolysis. Photocatalytic experiments indicated that the as-obtained TiO 2 microtubes exhibited a higher efficiency than commercial P25 in the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride.