Zn-doped TiO₂ catalysts were prepared using a sol-gel method and characterized by XPS,UV-Vis, BET, XRD in this study. Under the irradiation of simulant sunlight, the photocatalytic activity for the degradation of p-nitrophenol was studied too. After irradiation for 2.5 h, the degradation percentage of p-nitrophenol could rise to more than 80 %. The results showed that the spectrum absorption band edge of Zn/TiO₂ powder does not broaden obviously comparing with pure TiO₂ powder. Zinc exists as Zn (= 2 \* ROMAN II). When calcined at 973 K, there is a new phase as ZnTiO₃ in Zn/TiO₂ catalyst. The order of photocatalytic activity of Zn/TiO₂ catalysts calcined at different temperatures for p-nitrophenol is 773 K > 673 K > 873 K > 573 K > 973 K and the photocatalytic activity of Zn/TiO₂ catalyst calcined at 773 K is better than TiO₂ catalysts heated at the same temperature, and outclasses that of commercial TiO₂ catalyst. It also showed that the photocatalytic degradation of p-nitrophenol follows first-order kinetics under the irradiation of simulant sunlight.