The invention relates to methods for producing doped thin layers on substrates comprising the steps of depositing a dopant precursor on the substrate via an atomic layer deposition technique; and exposing the deposited dopant precursor to radicals. The methods can further comprise depositing a compound adjacent the dopant metal via an atomic layer deposition technique; and exposing the deposited compound to radicals, thereby providing a host. The invention relates to articles comprising approximately atomically thin layers of metals or metal oxides doped with at least one different metal or metal oxide. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.