A　novel　freeze-drying　technique　with　the　potential　for　application　in　the　synthesis　of　core/shell　structure　nanocomposites　was　investigated,　which　combined　the　synthesis　of　the　matrix　and　shell　particles　and　the　coating　process　into　one　step.　Alumina　nano　thin　films　were　successfully　coated　on　tungsten　nanoparticles　using　this　method,　shedding　light　on　the　feasibility　of　this　novel　technique.　The　precursor　and　final　products　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　infra-red　spectroscopy　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　and　the　coating　mechanism　of　the　method　was　proposed　on　the　basis　of　the　characterization　results.　The　experimental　results　indicated　that　W　nanoparticles　of　10-20　nm　in　size　were　coated　with　a　2　nm　thick　layer　of　continuous　Al2O3　nano　films.　(C)　2011　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.