Visible-light-sensitive　vanadium-doped　TiO2　hollow　microspheres　were　prepared　by　a　novel　one-step　template　method.　The　novel　catalysts　showed　pure　anatase　phase　and　better　spherical　morphology,　compared　with　that　of　the　traditional　samples.　The　possible　formation　mechanism　of　TiO2　hollow　microspheres　prepared　by　the　novel　method　has　been　proposed.　The　samples　fabricated　by　the　novel　method　not　only　exhibited　the　superior　photocatalytic　activity　for　the　decomposition　of　methylene　blue　under　visible-light　irradiation,　but　also　can　be　readily　recovered　from　the　solution　by　filtration　after　the　photocatalysis.　(C)　2010　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.