In this paper, we show the feasibility of the pulsed-laser ablation techniq
ue to grow 20-30-nm-thick, discrete and continuous coatings on particulate
material systems so that the properties of the core particles can be suitab
ly modified. Experiments were conducted with a pulsed excimer laser (lambda
= 248 nm, pulse duration = 25 ns) to deposit nanoparticle coatings on Al2O
3 and SiO2 core particles by irradiation of Ag and Y2O3-Eu3+ sputtering tar
gets. Structural characterization was performed with scanning electron micr
oscopy, wavelength dispersive x-ray mapping, transmission electron microsco
py, and scanning transmission electron microscopy with z-contrast.