Fine Particles

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of fine particles, the process comprising introducing a susceptor material into a plasma stream thereby vaporising some or all of the susceptor material; cooling the susceptor material downstream from where the susceptor material was introduced, thereby creating particles of the susceptor material; applying energy selected from electromagnetic radiation of wavelength shorter than the optical band gap of the susceptor material, sound waves, photons, or a combination thereof, to the particles; and modifying the density of defects of the particles. Also described is a fine particle comprising a core comprising a susceptor material and a coating comprising functionality selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or combinations thereof, and a C6-C24 alkyl. A dispersion comprising a dispersed phase and a continuous phase, wherein the dispersed phased comprises a multiplicity of the fine particles.