Tailoring TiO 2 and Other Metal Oxide (WO 3 and ZnO) Photocatalysts with Defect Engineering

Defect engineering in metal oxides, such as TiO 2 , WO 3 , and ZnO, is an interdisciplinary field that involves the introduction or manipulation of defects within metal oxides for photocatalytic applications. Defects can profoundly influence the electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of metal oxides. This chapter explores the concept of defect engineering as a method to customize the photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) and other metal oxides (i.e., WO 3 , ZnO, Co 3 O 4 , CuO, and Fe 3 O 4 ). The preparation strategies of metal oxide photocatalysts with defect engineering have been presented. It delves into the mechanism and impacts of defect engineering on the photoelectronic properties of metal oxides, providing valuable insights into optimizing their photocatalytic applications. It also presents the current challenges and benefits of using defective metal oxide-based photocatalysts. To sum up, this chapter can serve as a good platform to explore defective metal oxide photocatalysts in several domains at present and in the future.