Photocatalytic characteristics of single phase Fe-doped anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles sensitized with vitamin B 12

•Anatase TiO2/B12 hybrid nanostructured catalyst was successfully synthesized by sol–gel technique.•The nanoparticle catalyst was doped with iron at several concentrations.•Nanoparticles were characterized in detail by XRD, Raman, TEM, EDS, and spectroscopy techniques.•The formation mechanism and role of point defects on photocatalytic properties were discussed.•A structure-property-processing correlation was established.