Highly efficient visible light TiO2 photocatalyst prepared by sol-gel method at temperatures lower than 300 °C

► Mesoporous anatase nano-TiO2 photocatalyst was synthesized by sol-gel method at lower temperature (≤300 °C). ► Its visible light photocatalytic activity is greatly higher than that of TiO2 (P-25) and its photocatalytic stability is excellent. ► Carbon self-doping and visible photosensitive organic groups result in the improvement of the visible light photocatalytic activity.