To optimize the electronic structure of photocatalyst, a facile one-step approach is developed for the simultaneous realization of Zn-doping and surface oxygen vacancies (SOVs) formation on SnO₂. The Zn-doped SnO₂ with abundant SOVs exhibits efficient and stable performance for photocatalytic degradation of toluene under both low and high relative humidity. Experimental and theoretical calculations results show that the synergistic effects of Zn-doping and SOVs on SnO₂ can considerably boost the charge transfer and separation efficiency. Utilizing the in situ DRIFTS and theoretical calculations methods, it is revealed that the benzene ring of toluene is opened at benzoic acid on the SnO₂ surface and selectively at benzaldehyde on the Zn-doped SnO₂ surface. This implies that Zn-doped SnO₂ photocatalysts shorten the pathway of toluene degradation, and toxic intermediates can be significantly inhibited. This work could provide a promising and sustainable route for safe and efficient removal of aromatic VOCs with photocatalytic technology.

为了优化光催化剂的电子结构，开发了一种简便的一步方法，用于同时实现Zn掺杂和SnO ₂上表面氧空位（SOV）的形成。具有高SOV的Zn掺杂SnO ₂在低和高相对湿度下均表现出有效和稳定的甲苯光催化降解性能。实验和理论计算结果表明，Zn掺杂和SOV对SnO ₂的协同作用可以大大提高电荷转移和分离效率。利用原位DRIFTS和理论计算方法，发现甲苯的苯环在SnO _2的苯甲酸处开环。且在Zn掺杂的SnO ₂表面上的苯甲醛中选择性地存在。这表明锌掺杂的SnO ₂光催化剂缩短了甲苯的降解途径，并且可以显着抑制有毒的中间体。这项工作可以为通过光催化技术安全有效地去除芳族VOC提供一个有前途和可持续的途径。