Insights into the photosensitization activity of zirconium-titanium pyrophosphate under visible light irradiation

•Amorphous zirconium-titanium pyrophosphate (ZTPP) have been successfully synthesized.•Ti3+ and oxygen vacancy defect state have been introduced in pyrophosphate by bimetallic synergy.•The oxygen vacancy defect state enhanced the photosensitization efficiency of wide band gap semiconductor.•The ZTPP exhibited excellent photosensitization activity under visible light irradiation.