Formation of TiO2 with oxygen vacancy along with deposition of noble metal nanoparticle on such TiO2 has been found to boost the photocatalytic performance. Degussa (Evonik) P25 with oxygen vacancies was prepared through a
photocatalytic reaction utilizing the oxidation of benzyl alcohol on TiO2 surface, which creates oxygen vacancies. This was followed by the deposition of noble metal nanoparticles (Ag,Pt, Pd) on Degussa (Evonik) P25 with oxygen vacancy. The oxygen vacancy sites facilitate visible light absorption and
electron−hole pair formation, whereas the metal nanoparticles can act as electron acceptors and promote interfacial charge separation and increase the lifetime of the charge separated species.