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Fluorine doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was successfully synthesized by a convenient co-polycondensation of urea and ammonium fluoride (NH4F) mixtures, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance absorption spectra (UV-DRS), nitrogen adsorption-desorption, photoelectrochemical measurement and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The photocatalytic activities of fluorine doped g-C3N4 samples were evaluated by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) solution under visible light irradiation. The results showed that the fluorine doped g-C3N4 had a better photocatalytic activity than that of undoped g-C3N4, which was attributed to the favorable textural, optical and electronic properties derived from the fluorine atoms substituting nitrogen atoms of g-C3N4 frameworks. The photoelectrochemical measurements confirmed that the charges separation efficiency was improved by fluorine doping g-C3N4. Moreover, the tests of radical scavengers demonstrated that the holes (h) and superoxide radicals (O) were the main active species for the degradation of RhB. The enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of fluorine-doped graphitic carbon nitride was synthesized by a simple and facile thermal treatment of urea and ammonium fluoride mixtures. The XPS investigation showed that the fluorine atoms substituted nitrogen atoms of g-C3N4 frameworks during the co-condensation process, which favored the enhancement of photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]