This　work　shows　the　efficient　degradation　of　benzene　over　robust　Sn　2+-doped　TiO2　nanoparticles　prepared　by　a　facile　sol-gel　route　under　visible　light　irradiation.　The　structure,　optical　properties　and　chemical　states　of　Sn　species　incorporated　into　anatase　TiO2　were　carefully　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　transmission　electron　microscopy,　Raman,　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance,　X-ray　photoelectron,　X-ray　absorption,　and　electron　spin　resonance　(ESR)　spectroscopy.　The　maximal　conversion　rate　of　benzene　achieved　is　up　to　27%　over　the　Sn/TiO2　with　a　Ti/Sn　atomic　ratio　of　40　:　1　and　remains　constant　for　a　cyclic　run　of　six　days,　indicating　the　high　photo-stability　for　the　decomposition　of　benzene.　The　characterization　results　reveal　that　the　Sn2+-doping　narrows　the　band　gap　energy　of　anatase　TiO2,　leading　to　a　visible-light　response.　The　photocatalytic　degradation　pathway　of　benzene　was　proposed　based　on　the　results　of　ESR　and　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectra.　These　results　offer　a　full　comprehension　of　the　visible　light　photocatalysis　of　Sn2+-doped　TiO2　for　degradation　of　volatile　organic　pollutants.　This　journal　is　©　the　Partner　Organisations　2014.