Formation of ionic bonds between a fatty-acid Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer and a zinc oxide substrate

► A fatty-acid LB monolayer ionically adsorbed to ZnO-based conductor was prepared. ► Ionization of the fatty-acid molecules in the monolayer can be detected by IR-RAS. ► The monolayers protect the ZnO transparent conductor from chemical attack by NH3 gas.