Intelligent defect engineering to harness surface molecular processes is at the core of selective oxidation catalysis. Here, we demonstrate that the two-electron-trapped oxygen vacancy (VO) of BiOCl, a prototypical F center (VO′′), is a superb site to confine O2 toward efficient and selective NO oxidation to nitrate. Stimulated by solar light, VO′′ accomplishes NO oxidation through a two-electron charging (VO′′ + O2 → VO′′-O22-) and subsequent one-electron decharging process (VO′′-O22- + NO → VO-NO3- + e-). The back-donated electron...
