AbstractAu, Ag, Pt and Pd doped TiO2 nanocrystals were prepared using sol‐gel routes. X‐ray Near Edge Structure (XANES) was used to study the location of these precious metal dopants in nanocrystalline TiO2. The effects of these dopants on the phase transformation and grain growth were investigated using X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Two dopant concentrations i.e. 1 and 5% were studied and similar results were found. Silver and Palladium initially form oxides but annealing at high temperatures converts them to metals. Gold and and silver do not affect the anatase ‐ rutile transformation temperature whereas palladium and platinum do. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)