Electrochemically active surface zirconium complexes on indium tin oxide

A simple, electrochemically active ferrocenecarboxylate derivative is bonded to the indium tin oxide (ITO) surface via ligand metathesis at Zr in a process that obviates tedious tethering group synthesis and attachment. The Zr complex interface does not deleteriously affect the electrochemical behavior of the ligated ferrocenecarboxylate species. More importantly, because the stoichiometries of Zr complex surface chemisorption and subsequent ligand metathesis are known, electrochemical quantization of surface complex-bound ferrocenecarboxylate ligand groups provides an indirect measure of ITO surface OH coverage.