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Incorporating reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or Fe 3+ ions in TiO 2 photocatalyst could enhance photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants in aqueous solutions. This study characterized the photocatalytic activities of TiO 2 -Fe and TiO 2 -rGO nanocomposites immobilized on optical fibers synthesized by polymer assisted hydrothermal deposition method. The photocatalysts presented a mixture phase of anatase and rutile in the TiO 2 -rGO and TiO 2 -Fe nanocomposites. Doping Fe into TiO 2 particles (2.40eV) could reduce more band gap energy than incorporating rGO (2.85eV), thereby enhancing utilization efficiency of visible light. Incorporating Fe and rGO in TiO 2 decreased significantly the intensity of TiO 2 photoluminescence signals and enhanced the separation rate of photo-induced charge carriers. Photocatalytic performance of the synthesized nanocomposites was measured by the degradation of three pharmaceuticals under UV and visible light irradiation, including carbamazepine, ibuprofen, and sulfamethoxazole. TiO 2 -rGO exhibited higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of pharmaceuticals under UV irradiation, while TiO 2 -Fe demonstrated more suitable for visible light oxidation. The results suggested that the enhanced photocatalytic performance of TiO 2 -rGO could be attributed to reduced recombination rate of photoexcited electrons-hole pairs, but for TiO 2 -Fe nanocomposite, narrower band gap would contribute to increased photocatalytic activity., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)