In recent years different oxide nanostructures have been studied intensively for their potentials in solving environmental and energy related problems. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, for example, are two of the good candidates due to their abundance and possible catalytic properties. These materials, however, suffer from wide band gaps, around 3.1 eV, which corresponds to the absorption of ultra violet light and keeps them from using most of the energies in the solar spectrum, the most viable energy source in solving environmental/energy problems in a large scale. Therefore a good part of research efforts has been directed into shifting their absorption into the visible light region. We are working in this direction. We welcome students interested in this aspect to join this program.