Viable defect engineering with templates into metal oxides

Metal oxides have a strong potential use in a broad area of technological applications: electronic and optoelectronic devices, electrode materials, sensors, optical components, ceramic industry, etc. The functional properties of these oxides are strongly influenced by the defects already inherent to or purposefully introduced into the material. As a result, the defect engineering of the oxide materials has remained an important motivation in materials science research since the fundamental physical and chemical properties of these oxide materials depend on their defect structures. Localized defects, extended defects, impurities, and surface defects can profoundly affect the properties and applications of many materials. This chapter provides a broad perspective about defect engineering and the electrode materials for rechargeable batteries. It will highlight the various defects in metal oxides, providing a better understanding of a particular defect, and most importantly about the state-of-art developing methodologies for the creation of these defects in a controlled way.