Air　pollution　has　become　a　globally　prominent　environmental　problem,　in　which　nitrogen　oxide　(NOx,　∼　95　%　NO　and　NO2)　is　one　of　the　most　serious　pollutants,　how　to　remove　low-concentered　NO　from　the　air　without　producing　secondary　pollution　is　becoming　a　challenging　task.　Environmental　nanomaterial　based　photocatalytic　technique　is　considered　as　a　green　technology　for　the　removal　of　dilute　NO　(∼　ppb)　due　to　its　low　costs,　high　efficiencies　and　environmental　friendless.　Photocatalysts　with　certain　surface　defects,　e.g.,　oxygen　vacancies　(OVs)　have　attracted　huge　interests　with　appreciable　effectiveness　for　the　NO　removal　as　they　affect　essential　steps　of　the　photocatalytic　reactions.　Considering　the　advantages　of　OV　for　the　NO　conversion,　this　review　systematically　summarizes　the　methods　of　defect　creation　(e.g.,　OVs),　characterizations,　detailed　reaction　mechanisms　during　the　photocatalytic　NO　removal.　This　review　presents　the　state-of-the-arts,　applications　and　vital　roles　of　OVs　including　extending　light　absorption,　promoting　carrier　separation,　strengthening　the　surface-interface　reactions　in　the　photocatalytic　NO　oxidations.　Based　on　these,　several　challenges　and　prospects　of　surface　defect　engineering　in　semiconducting　materials　are　proposed　for　the　further　application　of　OV　for　NO　conversion　as　well　as　the　removal　of　other　potential　atmospheric　hazardous.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.