Hi everyone,

I am trying to modify the hydrophilic tin/indium oxide surface of an ITO glass by the formation of an hydrophobic aliphatic monolayer on top. I am following the recipe published by Li et al. (dx.doi.org/10.1021/la204980f - Langmuir 2012, 28, 5350−5359). This recipe involves the UV photochemical grafting of the surface with alkene molecules; particularly I am using 1-octadecene.

I would like to know if a water free environment is completely necesary to get a reasonably good monolayer that make the hydrophobic. I am following the same recipe but the Ar filled glove-box. Is it possible to graft the surface in ambient atmosphere? Does anyone have experience with this protocol to help me a little?

Thank very much.