Mixed　phased　TiO2　catalysts　codoped　with　N　and　Ti3+　have　been　successfully　synthesized　using　a　low-temperature,　one　step　hydrothermal　method　using　TiN　as　the　precursor.　The　as　prepared　samples　were　studied　for　their　crystalline　structure,　morphology,　composition,　and　optical　properties　using　various　analytical　techniques　such　as　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(FESEM),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　ultraviolet-visible　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy　(UV-vis　DRS),　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS).　It　was　observed　that　N　and　Ti3+　codoped　TiO2　samples　having　mixed　phases　of　brookite,　anatase　and　rutile　could　be　obtained　at　a　wide　range　of　hydrothermal　time　durations　ranging　from　24　h　to　72　h.　The　as-prepared　samples　exhibit　a　distinct　red　shift,　suggesting　that　N　and　Ti3+　codoping　significantly　enhances　the　optical　absorption　characteristics　of　TiO2.　The　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　prepared　samples　was　studied　using　methylene　blue　and　colorless　resorcinol　dyes.　The　prepared　samples　demonstrated　good　photocatalytic　activity　because　of　their　excellent　mixed　phase　crystalline　structures　and　an　increase　in　the　threshold　wavelength　response.　The　mechanism　of　the　photocatalytic　degradation　reaction　was　also　studied.　This　work　provides　a　novel　strategy　to　fabricate　and　extend　the　visible　light　response　of　TiO2,　which　facilitates　their　application　in　the　environment　remediation　and　energy　conversion.　©　2017　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.