TiO2 with "Fluorine-Occupied" Surface Oxygen Vacancies and Its Stably Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

Oxygen vacancies have a positive effect on the photocatalytic performance of TiO2, but their benefits are deeply limited owing to their inherent lability. To avoid this disadvantage, fluorine atoms were used to “occupy” the surface oxygen vacancies (O vacancies) of TiO2. The “fluorine‐occupied” surface O vacancies maintain the intrinsic nature of the O vacancies, but they are stable under ambient and photocatalytic conditions. TiO2 with “fluorine‐occupied” surface O vacancies give enhanced performance in terms of both photodegradation and photocurrent conversion. The “occupied” strategy used herein holds promise to be a common method for developing O vacancy‐related photocatalysts. Occupancy permit: Oxygen vacancies have a positive effect on the photocatalytic performance of TiO2, but their benefits are limited because of their inherent lability. In this study, fluorine atoms are successfully used to stabilize oxygen vacancies on the surface of TiO2 through a site‐occupied strategy. The modified oxygen vacancies have the potential to act as stable active sites for practical applications of TiO2 in photocatalysis.