Method of producing metal oxides with increased electrical conductivity

A method for increasing the conductivity of an oxide with crystal structure belonging to the 4/m 32/m point group comprising:

• (a) providing a single crystal oxide with crystal structure belonging to 4/m 32/m point group,
• (b) contacting the single crystal oxide with crystal structure belonging to 4/m 32/m point group with nitrogen gas at a temperature in the range of at least ambient temperature to at most 80° C. thereby providing a first nitrogen contacted metal oxide;
• (c) contacting the first nitrogen contacted metal oxide with oxygen gas at a temperature in the range of the range of at least ambient temperature to at most 80° C. thereby providing a first oxygen contacted metal oxide;
• (d) contacting the first oxygen contacted metal oxide with nitrogen gas at a temperature in the range of the range of at least ambient temperature to at most 80° C. thereby providing a second nitrogen contacted metal oxide;
• (e) contacting the second nitrogen contacted metal oxide with oxygen gas at a temperature in the range of at least 40° C. to at most 80° C. thereby providing a second oxygen contacted metal oxide;
• and
• (f) contacting the second oxygen contacted metal oxide with nitrogen gas at a temperature in the range of at least 40° C. to at most 80° C. thereby providing the increased conductivity crystalline metal oxide with a crystal structure belonging to 4/m 32/m point group oxide.