Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are used as passivating layers and for controlled modification of surface properties of substrates. Their main applications include wetting, adhesion, friction, chemical sensing and ultra-fine scale lithography. Alkytrichlorosilanes are commonly used for synthesising SAMs on Silicon dioxide which are commonly used in microelectronics. Trichloro(octadecyl)silane is a widely used alkyltrichlorosilane.

Trichloro(octadecyl)silane (OTS) is an alkoxy silane with a large alkyl and polar head group, mainly used as a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on a variety of nanoparticles and metal oxides substrates. It provides an amphiphilic character that can be used in molecular and opto-electronics applications.

OTS can be used to silanize poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA)/nanosilica (SiO₂) nanofibers that can provide a hydrophobic coating on the wooden surfaces by electrospinning. It can also be used as a SAM on the surface of silica (SiO₂) gate dielectric for the development of organic field effect transistor (OFETs). It may also be used in a variety of applications like improving the electrochemical performance for dye sensitized solar cells and for the development of metal insulated field effect transistors.