Facile synthesis of mesoporous core-shell TiO2 nanostructures from TiCl3

► Stable TiCl3 solution is adopted as Ti sources. ► Low-cost glucose assisted facile solvothermal reactions. ► Exquisite core-shell morphology and mesoporous structure of TiO2 nanostructures. ► Superior photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanostructures in UV light irradiation.