Efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic water pollutants using V–N-codoped TiO2 thin films.

Highlights: [•] V–N-codoped TiO2 thin films have been prepared using RF-magnetron sputtering. [•] The band gap was narrowed up to 2.5eV when V and N were codoped in TiO2. [•] V–N-codoped TiO2 thin film was able to degrade organic water pollutants much faster than mono-doped and undoped TiO2. [•] Increased visible light absorption and charge separation are mainly responsible for enhanced photocatalytic activity for codoped-TiO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]