A method of modifying a coating material includes applying a fluid including a population of particles to a wet coating material disposed on a substrate. The method also includes drying the wet coating material so as to give rise to a coated article, where the particles are at least partially embedded in a surface of the dried coating material. The particles can be metallic nanowires, and a loading of the metallic nanowires in the dried coating material can be above an electric percolation threshold.