Highly disperse nanocomposites with fumed silica/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) prepared using different methods were studied by infrared spectroscopy, adsorption, and quantum chemistry methods. Low amounts of water or ethanol (30 wt.% with respect to the silica content) promote appropriate distribution of PVP on silica particles. The use of ethanol leads to a smaller loss of the specific surface area (S-BET) than in the case of water used as a solvent. On PVP distribution on a silica surface, treatment of the system in a pseudo-liquid state reactor (PLSR) provides slightly better results (a lower loss in S-BET) in comparison with mechanochemical activation (MCA) in a ball mill at the PVP monolayer coverage. An increase in the activation time to 6-9 h leads to an increase in the vertical bar Delta S-BET/S-BET vertical bar value to 0.29-0.35 for both treatment methods. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.