The feasibility of gas phase deposition using a Ti alkoxide precursor for precise surface modification of catalysts was demonstrated by modifying a mesoporous alumina support with a Ti oxide overcoat. Titanium tetra-isopropoxide yields a Ti oxide layer that covers homogeneously the alumina surface. Uniformity of the deposited TiO₂ was verified by SEM-EDX, on both intra-particle and inter-particle levels. Only a few atomic layer deposition (ALD) cycles were required in order to obtain Ti contents with a relevance for industrial application. The pore size distribution of the overcoated catalyst support was barely affected by the coating process. Synthesized CoMo catalysts based on the Ti-alumina carrier showed up to 40% higher activity compared to a catalyst supported on pristine alumina, in hydroprocessing under industrial testing conditions. The TiO₂ coating appeared to be stable, showing no agglomeration characteristics after reaction as corroborated by TEM-EDX. ALD provides a scalable route with low waste generation for the production of precisely structured TiO₂-Al₂O₃ hydroprocessing catalyst supports.

To improve the thermal stability, Al₂O₃ has been successfully coated on a Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ (YAG:Ce) phosphor powder host by using the Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) approach in a fluidized bed reactor. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis indicate that coating an Al₂O₃ thin layer by ALD is highly feasible. The luminescence properties (such as excitation and emission as well as quantum efficiency and UV-absorption of the coated YAG:Ce phosphor) were systematically analysed, with the further examination of the thermal resistance characteristics. The Al₂O₃ thin layer coating with precisely controlled thickness by ALD can obviously improve the luminescence intensity and greatly enhances the thermal stability of the YAG:Ce phosphor. It is suggested that the alumina coating with tailoring thickness seems not only to act like a barrier to decrease the thermal quenching, but also as a great help to promote the light absorption and transfer.