A method for producing a nanostructured, in particular a ceramic-like functional coating on a substrate is described. To that end, using at least one plasma source, a pulsed plasma is produced with which a matrix phase and at least one nano-scale interstitial phase embedded in it are deposited on the substrate via a material input. Preferably a plurality of pulsed plasma sources that are time-correlated or synchronized with each other are used. Also proposed is a nanostructured functional coating, in particular one producible by this method, which is free of chlorine and/or sulfur, and which contains at least one metal and/or at least one element selected from the group oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, helium, argon or neon.