Provided is a method for producing a zirconia-coated titanium oxide fine particle dispersion which includes (1) a step of preparing a dispersion (1) of titanium oxide fine particles, (2) a step of adding, to the dispersion (1), 1 to 50 parts by mass of an aqueous peroxozirconic acid solution in terms of the mass of ZrO.sub.2 per 100 parts by mass of the titanium oxide fine particles, and then aging reaction fine particles (2a) obtained as a result of a reaction between the titanium oxide fine particles and the peroxozirconic acid to thereby obtain a dispersion (2) of a zirconia-coated titanium oxide fine particle precursor (2b), and (3) a step of adjusting the dispersion (2) to have a solid concentration of 0.01 to 10 mass % and then hydrothermally treating the resulting dispersion (2).

A scattering particle includes a core and a shell, wherein the shell includes a first layer including a compound capable of reacting with oxygen and/or moisture, and a second layer including a compound decomposable by light and/or heat.

A granule may include a coating disposed over at least a portion of a core. The coating may include composite particles contained in an oxide-containing binder. The composite particles may include titanium-containing particles dispersed in an oxide-containing composition. In a particular embodiment, the oxide-containing composition of the composite particles may include an alkaline earth element.

A granule may include a coating overlying at least a portion of a core. The coating may include composite particles contained in an oxide-containing binder. The composite particles may include titanium-containing particles contained in an oxide-containing composition. In a particular embodiment, the oxide-containing composition of the composite particles may include an alkaline earth element.