Titanium oxide films and powders are attached onto carbon cloths via RF reactive sputtering and an epoxy resin mixture, respectively. $TiO_2$/carbon composite materials were used to investigate the photoelectrochemical degradation of perchlorate ions in water. The energy band gaps of the RF-sputtered $TiO_2$ thin films ranged from 3.35-3.44 eV. A photocurrent of the powdered $TiO_2$ as illuminated by ultra-violet light for 30 min. was $2.79;mA/cm^2$. Perchlorate ions in water were shown to be degradable by a UV-illuminated $TiO_2$ powder/carbon/Nafion/carbon composite.