Spray coating vs. immersion for self-assembly of gemini perfluorinated phosphonic acids on indium tin oxide

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are widely used to engineer the surface properties of metals and metal oxide layers. This article reports fabrication gemini perfluorinated phosphonic acids SAMs on indium tin (ITO). The self-assembled be for patterning nickel lines by electroplating ITO in order obtain low-cost conductor grids heterojunction solar cells. aim is develop large-scale, processes that will both reduce production times produce strong, covalently bonded surfaces along with uniform coverage. acid provides extremely high hydrophobicity at a static contact angle water above 115° remarkably low hysteresis approximately 15° between advancing receding angles. Well-known octadecylphosphonic as reference material. Two deposition methods, immersion spray-coating, compared self-assembly molecules. effect solvents during immersion, rinsing steps investigated. characterized atomic force microscopy, measurements, attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.