Methods for self-assembling monolayers to mitigate hydrogen permeation

A method for preparing a stable hydrophobic self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coating,

• preparing a SAM solution, wherein the preparation of the SAM solution comprises:
• combining a first quantity of a SAM compound to a second quantity of an initial solvent and a third quantity of an additional solvent to form the SAM solution;
• and
• mixing, in a first sealed container, the SAM solution at a first fixed temperature at a constant rotational speed for a first fixed time interval;
• preparing the SAM coating, wherein the preparation of the SAM coating comprises:
• treating a substrate to achieve a surface organic contamination below a threshold of 15% by atomic percentage;
• heating the substrate at a second fixed temperature for a second fixed time interval;
• within a second sealed container, immersing the substrate in the SAM solution for a third fixed time interval;
• and
• following the completion of the third fixed time interval:
• removing the substrate from the second sealed container;
• treating the substrate with the initial solvent and the additional solvent to remove excess SAM material;
• and
• heating the substrate at a third fixed temperature for a fourth fixed time interval.