Visible light (VL) responsive mesoporous sulfated rare earth ions (Nd3+, La3+, Y3+) incorporated TiO2@fumed SiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by sol-gel method with P123 (EO20PO70EO20) as a template. The resultant samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N-2 adsorption-desorption measurements (BET), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal analyses (TG-DTA). In comparison with nondoped sample, RE-doped samples showed not only an increase in the surface areas and pore volumes, but also an inhibition of titania phase transition from anatase to rutile. Photo-degradation results revealed that RE-doped samples could greatly improve the photocatalytic activity, and the experimental degradation rates of methyl orange (MO) were higher than that catalyzed by undoped samples and Degussa P-25, obeyed the order of Nd3+ > La3+ > Y3+. Nd-doped sample expressed the highest photoactivity and the optimal dosage was 0.25 mol%, which resulted in MO degradation rates of 99.8% and 90.05% irradiation under UV for 60 min and VL (lambda > 400 nm) for 40 h, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the higher specific area, good crystallinity, strong VL absorption and effective separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in the catalyst. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.