In this work, the preparation and physiochemical characterization of tungsten, nitrogen and sulfur codoping TiO2 photocatalysts (W, N, S-TiO2) was undertaken. W, N, S-TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized via the precipitation-impregnation method. To investigate the structural, optical, and electronic properties, the as-prepared W, N, S-TiO2 photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectrum (DRS). W, N, S-TiO2 samples showed photo absorption in the visible light region and higher visible light photocatalytic activity than TiO2. 0.011W, 0.030(N, S)-TiO2 exhibited the highest visible light photocatalytic activity, and the photocatalyic degradation activity of 0.011W,0.030(N,S)-TiO2 is nearly 10 times higher than that of TiO2. Compared with the undoped TiO2, the improved photocatalytic activity of W, N, S-TiO2 samples under visible light irradiation is attributed to the increase of the visible light absorption and the reduction in photogenerated electron-hole recombination. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.