Antibacterial activity of zinc-doped titania (Zn/TiO 2 ) nano-materials through different anions (ZnCl 2 /TiO 2 , Zn(Ac) 2 /TiO 2 , Zn(NO 3 ) 2 /TiO 2 and ZnSO 4 /TiO 2 ) doped calcinated at 500 °C under visible light irradiation and in the dark was investigated. A simple sol–gel method was used to synthesize TiO 2 nano-materials. Samples ZnCl 2 /TiO 2 , Zn(Ac) 2 /TiO 2 , Zn(NO 3 ) 2 /TiO 2 and ZnSO 4 /TiO 2 exhibit anatase phase TiO 2 as the predominant crystalline phase and Zn ions exist in the form of ZnTiO 3 , Zn 2 Ti 3 O 8 , ZnO or ZnSO 4 crystallites. The study on antibacterial effect of Zn/TiO 2 nano-materials on fungal Candida albicans (ATCC10231), Gram-negative Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC6538) shows that the antibacterial action is more significant on C. albicans than on E. coli and S. aureus. Under visible light irradiation, the antibacterial activity is superior to that in the dark.