Ceramic nanocomposites and methods for manufacturing the ceramic nanocomposites are disclosed. One method includes introducing to a fired green ceramic body having a ceramic matrix submicron particles having coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the ceramic matrix and at least one type of location-controlling dopant at an amount that is sufficient to cover the majority of the ceramic matrix grain boundaries. One ceramic nanocomposite includes a ceramic matrix with submicron particles dispersed in the ceramic matrix, the submicron particles having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the ceramic matrix and at least one dopant that covers the majority of the ceramic matrix grain boundaries, at a concentration that does not exceed the bulk solubility limit of the dopant in the ceramic matrix at the ceramic nanocomposite sintering temperature.