Engineered Si(1 0 0) surfaces for the gas-phase anchoring of metal β-diketonate complexes

Nickel β-diketonate complexes has been covalent anchored from gas phase on 10-undecylenic acid decorated Si(1 0 0) surfaces. The surface density of the anchored Ni complex was controlled by tuning the surface concentration of carboxylic groups adopting a mixed monolayer of undecylenic acid and 1-decene used as a spectator spacer.