Durable antimicrobial coatings which may be deposited on a substrate. Such coatings may include a plurality of particles which are fused to the substrate and/or other particles. The particles may be provided using a single-sided electrode arrangement, which is configured to produce an electrical arc or discharge at one end of an electrode and to emit the particles from the electrode, where the arc or discharge can be produced without the end of the electrode being in proximity to a grounded object. The particles may be provided as one or more layers of nanoscale particles having an average size of less than about 1000 nm. Such coatings may have a thickness that is less than about 1000 nm. Thicker coatings may also be provided. The coatings may preferably include silver, tungsten, noble metals, nonstoichiometric compounds including ceramics, other metals including rare earth metals and compounds, and compositions thereof.
