TiO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by using a TiO2@NaCl core-shell structure as the precursor. The surface defects were well preserved by the NaCl shell, and therefore high oxygen adsorption capacity was observed. After the NaCl shell was removed, the resulting pure TiO2 nanoparticles were of anatase phase and uniform size of around 20?24 nm. The presence of an abundance of surface defects contributes to the high photocatalytic activity of the synthesized materials, and the TiO2 materials obtained from the TiO2@NaCl precursor can be used as efficient photocatalysts for degradation of rhodamine B under UV light irradiation. TiO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by using a TiO2 @ NaCl core-shell structure as the precursor. The surface defects were well preserved by the NaCl shell, and therefore high oxygen adsorption capacity was observed. After the NaCl shell was removed, the resulting pure TiO2 The nanoparticles were of anatase phase and uniform size of around 20 ~ 24 nm. The presence of an abundance of surface defects contributes to the high photocatalytic activity of the synthesized materials, and the TiO2 materials obtained from the TiO2 @ NaCl precursor can be used as efficient photocatalysts for degradation of rhodamine B under UV light irradiation.