N,Ce-codoped titania hollow spheres were prepared using carbon spheres as template and using N,Ce-codoped titania nanoparticles as building blocks. The N,Ce-codoped titania nanoparticles were synthesized at low temperature. The prepared hollow spheres were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum (DRS). The effect of N and Ce content on the physical structure and photocatalytic properties of the as-prepared hollow sphere samples was investigated. The mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of dyes under visible light irradiation was also discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.