Doping　nitrogen　in　TiO2　crystals　is　a　simple　and　effective　approach　to　extend　the　absorption　spectrum　of　TiO2　to　visible　light　range,　but　it　leads　to　a　serious　decline　in　charge　transfer　and　total　loss　of　the　catalytic　ability　for　overall　water　splitting.　Here,　TiO2　was　co-doped　with　phosphorus　and　nitrogen　by　high　temperature　method　and　found　the　sample　of　P-N-TiO2-I　could　realize　overall　water　splitting　under　visible　light　while　the　samples　of　P-N-TiO2-II,　P-N-TiO2-III　and　N-TiO2　cannot　do　it.　The　structures　of　the　photocatalysts　were　described　by　various　analytical　techniques.　Through　XRD　and　HRTEM,　lots　of　long-range　defect　such　as　twins　and　dislocations　could　be　clearly　observed　for　P-N-TiO2-II,　P-N-TiO2-III　and　N-TiO2.　But　for　P-N-TiO2-I,　the　long-range　defect　was　decreased　drastically.　We　proposed　that　because　of　various　sizes　and　bonding　modes　of　N,　O,　P　and　Ti,　proper　mole　ratios　of　P　to　N　replace　Ti　and　0　respectively　can　reduce　the　long-range　defect,　as　that　of　P-N-TiO2-I.　Furthermore,　this　co-doping　effect　results　in　a　significant　improvement　in　the　separation　of　photo-excited　electrons　and　holes　and　enables　the　nitrogen-doping　TiO2　to　catalyze　the　overall　splitting　of　water　into　molecular　hydrogen　and　oxygen　under　visible　light　irradiation,　in　the　absence　of　sacrificial　agents.　These　observations　might　arouse　new　strategies　to　mend　the　hybrid-atom-doping-induced　structural　damage　in　semiconductor　crystals　and　to　modulate　their　functional　properties.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.