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A series of TiO₂ photocatalysts were obtained using several calcination temperatures ranging from 350 to 750°C. The photocatalysts’ characteristics by X-ray diffraction, UV–vis and FTIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopies, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, BET and BJH methods showed that sample active in vis region had anatase structure, about 200m²/g specific surface area, absorbed light for λ>400nm and contained 10.1at.% of C–C species. The photocatalytic activity of the catalysts was estimated by measuring the decomposition rate of phenol in 0.21mM aqueous solution in visible and ultraviolet light. The experimental data clearly indicate correlation between the absorption intensity of irradiation by obtained powders and their photocatalytic performance in phenol degradation. An increase in absorbance over the entire vis region and the highest photocatalytic activity for phenol degradation in visible light (λ …