The major results of the present work are the template-assisted (porous alumina or polycarbonate) manufacturing of nanowires, nanorods or nanotubes with tailored dimensions, composition, and physical-chemical properties, as well as optimisation of routine producing of alumina templates with the nanochannels open through from both ends. A successful attempt to alter the geometry of silicon-based ceramic nanowires by means of anodic alumina pore size tailoring has been made. However, diverse optical, spectral and structural characterization methods confirm the active participation of the alumina matrix in reactions with the Si-based pre-ceramic precursors (KiON Ceraset polyureasilazane and polycarbosilane SP Matrix Polymer) within the nanochannels and the influence on the chemical composition of the nanostructures synthesized therein. Solutions of the oximato precursor complexes of Zn, Mn, Mg, Cu, In can be successfully used for the synthesis of polycrystalline one-dimensional oxidic structures via the impregnation into polymeric templates and thermal treatment. Sensors tests showed the superior performance of indium oxide nanotubes to that of the unformed spherical particles, synthesised from the same parent material. Plain and Mn-doped ZnO nanorods were synthesized at a low temperature around 160-180 °C. This prevents phase separation and favours uniform distribution of Mn ions in the ZnO lattice. The novel approach to the synthesis of Cu-doped ZnO resulted in homogeneously distributed copper ions in ZnO matrix. The analysis methods point to the oxidation state +II, the photoluminescent spectra show systematic narrowing of the band gap with the Cu-doping concentration increase.