This invention provides a method for making a multifunctional material which exhibits a high photocatalytic activity and is capable of easily adsorbing volatile organic compounds. It is a method for making a multifunctional material that exhibits a high coating film hardness, thermal resistance, excellent corrosion resistance, peeling resistance, and wear resistance. The material is heat-treated by exposing the surface of a substrate having a surface layer formed by a titanium, titanium oxide, titanium alloy, or oxides of titanium alloy, to a live flame to bring the temperature of the surface layer of the substrate to 600 DEG C or higher, or heating the surface of the substrate in an atmosphere of oxygen-containing gas, to form a layer bristling with micro posts of titanium oxides or an oxide of titanium alloy within the surface layer. Then the layer bristling with micro posts is severed in the direction along the surface layer, to obtain a member having at least a portion where a layer bristling with titanium oxide or oxide of titanium alloy is exposed, and a member having a plurality of continuously formed narrow width protrusions bristling with titanium oxide or oxide of titanium alloy are exposed.