Nonmetal-doped black titania is achieved in a core–shell structure by a two-step synthesis. The nonmetal dopants in amorphous TiO_2−x shells decrease e–h recombination centers, and more than 6.6 at.% N further improves solar energy absorption from 65% up to 85%. The photocatalytic H₂ generation of the N-doped black titania is 15.0 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ under 100 mW cm⁻² of full-sunlight and 200 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ under 90 mW cm⁻² of visible-light irradiation, superior to TiO_2−x and reported titania photocatalysis.