(Yb, N)-TiO2 photocatalyst has been synthesized by sol-gel method combined with microwave chemical synthesis. Also, the efficiency of the (Yb, N)-TiO2 as a photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) using visible light irradiation has been evaluated. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, XPS, UV-vis-DRS and PL The results show that the (Yb, N)-TiO2 photocatalyst has the anatase TiO2 crystalline phase. The TEM micrograph demonstrated that the average particle size of the sample was about 12 nm. The band-gap energy absorption edge shifted to longer wavelength as compared to commercial TiO2-P25, N-TiO2 and the Yb-TiO2 prepared by our group. Results of degradation revealed that the (Yb, N)-TiO2 has shown much more higher photocatalytic activity than that of the TiO2-P25, the N-TiO2 and the Yb-TiO2 under the visible light. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.