Ellipsometry gave thicknesses of 45 ± 2 nm for thin films prepared in this way. Surface-initiated polymerization of COT 7-octenyltrichlorosilane coated silicon substrates or p-styrenethiol coated gold substrates were immersed in a nitrogen-sparged CH 2 Cl 2 solution of Grubbs generation (II) catalyst (22 mmol in CH 2 Cl 2 ) under argon at RT for 1 h. The initiator-functionalized substrate was thoroughly washed with nitrogen-sparged CH 2 Cl 2 and carried on to the next step. A 1M solution of COT was made up in nitrogen-sparged methylene chloride in a Schlenk flask. This solution was added via syringe to the surface-bound ruthenium catalyst from the previous sections, and the polymerization allowed to proceed for the indicated reaction time. The slides were removed and placed immediately and without washing to a solution of 1M vinyl quenching reagent, and left there for 15 minutes. Slides were removed, washed with methylene chloride, and immediately characterized.