<p>Parts made from H13 steel are widely used in harsh working environment subjected to severe friction and wear under heavy loads at elevated temperature, reducing greatly its service life. To enhance the wear resistance of these components, three micro-nanostructure Al₂O₃-NiCr coatings contained nano rare-earth oxides (CeO₂, La₂O₃, and Sm₂O₃) were prepared on the surface of H13 steel using laser cladding technology. The effects of nano rare-earth oxides on the microstructure, wettability, microhardness, and wear resistance of the micro-nanostructure Al₂O₃-NiCr coatings were investigated, and the rare-earth modification mechanisms were stated. Results show that the micro-nanostructure Al₂O₃-NiCr coatings primarily is composed of dense aggregates consisted of micron-sized and nano-sized Al₂O₃ particles, with smaller particles filling voids among larger particles. The microstructure of the coating with nano rare-earth oxide additions is refined compared to the coatings without such additions. Adding nano rare-earth oxides significantly improved Al₂O₃ ceramics and NiCr alloy wettability. Further, the results demonstrate that influences of nano Sm₂O₃ oxide on the microstructure and wear-resistant properties are superior to CeO₂ and La₂O₃ oxides.</p>