Patent ID: 7776406

Claim:
A method for forming a powder array, the powder array comprising a composition selected from the group consisting of B 2 O 3 ; TeO 2 ; GeO 2 and a metal/metalloid dopant/additive; LiNbO 3 ; LiTaO 3 ; a metal/metalloid arsinide; a metal/metalloid telluride; a metal/metalloid calcinate; a metal/metalloid phosphide; a metal/metalloid selenide; a first metal/metalloid, a transition metal different from the first metal/metalloid and a fluorine, chlorine, carbon or nitrogen dopant/additive; a host composition, a first dopant/additive that introduces an absorption at a first wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum and an emission at a second wavelength higher than the first wavelength and a dopant/additive that creates a lasting change in index-of-refraction of the particles as a result of exposure to a third wavelength; oxide composition comprising silicon, an alkali metal or alkali earth metal and a third metal/metalloid element; and a host composition, a first dopant/additive that introduces an absorption at a first wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum and an emission at a second wavelength larger than the first wavelength and a second dopant/additive that introduces paramagnetism to the particles, the method comprising: reacting a reactant stream within a reaction chamber closed from the ambient environment, the reactant stream comprising selected precursors to produce the desired composition in a product stream, the reaction driven by a light source, wherein the reactant stream comprises an aerosol; and coating product particles onto at least a portion of a substrate surface from the product stream within the reaction chamber; wherein the product particles as a coating on the substrate are fused and wherein the light source directs a light beam at a path through the reaction chamber that intersects with the reactant stream and avoids contact with the substrate surface.