Synthesis of S/Cr doped mesoporous TiO2 with high-active visible light degradation property via solid state reaction route

► This study demonstrates the successful preparation of S and Cr co-doped mesoporous TiO2 material via a simple solid state reaction route. ► Research illustrates that the series of the S-Cr-TiO2 samples show strong absorptions to light irradiation in the visible light and near infrared region, which can greatly promote the utilization of the major part of the solar spectrum, such as in the form of photocatalyst. ► The Raman spectra from the S and Cr co-doped TiO2 sample are determined, generating the overlapping of the vibrational peaks. ► The high photocatalytic activity results from the cooperative effect of S and Cr co-doped TiO2, as well as the nanoparticle size effect, large surface area and mesostructure. ► Within 50 min, ∼82.6% of the initial BCG is degraded for the S-Cr-TiO2 (6S-4Cr) photocatalyst, which displays an application feasibility of industrialization.