The influence of the presence of a coating of maghemite nanoparticles or of a forest of carbon nanotubes on the pool boiling phenomenon is experimentally studied. Maghemite nanoparticle coating experiments are performed on a 100 µm platinum wire coated with 10 nm maghemite nanoparticles. Carbon nanotube coating experiments are performed on a 125 µm nickel wire coated with 10 nm diameter and about 1 µm long carbon nanotubes. The working fluid is distilled, demineralized and degassed water. The working temperature is 1 bar, and the bulk water is at saturation (100◦C). Nanoparticle coating results in a noticeable increase (up to 75 %) of the critical heat flux (CHF) for both types of coating. The higher CHF is due to the higher wettability of water on the surface coated with nanoparticles. Concerning heat transfer, the influence of a nanoparticles coating is sensitive to the thickness of the coating. When using maghemite nanoparticles, higher heat transfer coefficients are obtained with a thin coating than with a bare wire. For a thicker coating, the heat transfer coefficient is decreased. In the case of carbon nanotube coatings, heat transfer was reduced in all cases.