This paper reports a new process to prepare the F-N-codoped TiO2 photocatalysts with anatase at 100 degrees C using TiCL4 and NH4F as titanium and fluorine, nitrogen sources, respectively. The as-prepared yellow or white yellow photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS). The results showed that the F-N-codoping extended the absorbance spectra of TiO2 into visible region. The BET surface area of the as-prepared F-N-codoped TiO2 photocatalyst was high up to 191 m(2) g(-1). The results of degradation of methyl orange (MO) solution showed that the F-N-codoped samples exhibit much higher visible-light-induced catalytic activities than that of Degussa P25 and the as-prepared pure TiO2. This property can be attributed to the synergetic effects of absorption in the visible-light region, red shift in adsorption edge, good crystallization, porous structure and large surface area of the F-N-codoped TiO2. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.