Doping mode, band structure and photocatalytic mechanism of B-N-codoped TiO2

► B-N-codoped TiO2 (B-N-TiO2) photocatalysts showed a much higher photocatalytic activity than pure TiO2, N-doped TiO2 (N-TiO2) and B-doped TiO2 (B-TiO2) under visible light irradiation. ► The doping mode, band structure and photocatalytic mechanism of B-N-TiO2 photocatalysts were elucidated in detail based on both the Ti-O-B-O-Ti structure in the TiO2 crystal lattice and the crystal structure of B-TiO2 and B-N-TiO2. ► The interstitial N and [NOB] species and surface NOx and B2O3 species on B-N-TiO2 resulted in the extended UV- and visible-light absorbance, the facilitated separation of photo generated charge carriers and thus the better photocatalytic performance.