A method for forming a coating of nano-sized material on the surface of another material using a micromachining bead-blasting machine for implantation of nanoparticles is disclosed. The method can be practiced with a wide range of target materials, nanoparticles (such as carbon-nanotubes, CNTs), and environmental conditions, using a wide range of carrier bead sizes and materials, or without carrier beads. The claimed implantation method can be used to fabricate a surface-activated CNT-cathode for use in a field emission device. The implantation method can also be used for chemically reacting any of the materials present near the point of impact with each other.