Uniform fine particles of nickel basic carbonate were synthesized by heating, aqueous solution containing 0.08 mol dm(-3) nickel sulfate and 0.8 mol dm(-3) urea, at 85 degrees C for various periods of time. These particles were then coated with copper compound by heating them in aqueous dispersion, containing urea and copper nitrate, at 85 degrees C. The coating material was found to be amorphous and was composed of Cu-2(OH)(2)CO3. The coating mixture, when heated under similar conditions in the absence of the dispersed cores, produced greenish dispersion of the precipitated particles [coating precursor solids]. The later were also amorphous in nature and had the same chemical composition [Cu-2(OH)(2)CO3] as that of the coating material of the coated particles. Air-dried core, coated, and coating precursor materials were calcined at 700 degrees C for 1 h at the heating rate of 5 degrees C min(-1) in the air atmosphere, which converted them into NiO, NiO[core]/CuO[coating], and CuO, respectively. Scanning electron microscopic examination showed no sintering occurred in all these solids during the calcinations process and the particles retained their identities to a significant extent. (c) 2006 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.