US Patent 7618609 Method to prepare defective metal oxides with increased specific capacity

Increased lithium capacity of defective oxide materials and methods for preparation are described herein. Point defects may be introduced into a metal oxide to increase its lithium ion capacity. Defective metal oxides can be prepared by heating the metal oxide under O2/H2O at elevated temperatures. These increased lithium capacity metal oxides may be suitable for use as high specific energy cathodes in lithium metal and lithium ion batteries.