These and other objectives will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art have been achieved by providing an antimicrobial surface having formula 1: SS—(Ua—V+b1—W)b2dX−e  formula 1 wherein: SS represents a modified solid surface that comprises a hydroxyl group in the unmodified state thereof; a represents 0 or 1; U represents —Y1T-; Y1 represents —O—, —S—, or —NQ-; Q represents H; a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1-24 atoms; phenyl; or benzyl; T represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain having 1-24 atoms; V represents a positively charged moiety; b1 represents 1 or 2; b2 represents 1-3; W represents LZ; L represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain having 10-24 atoms; Z represents —H, —OH, —SH, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OR, —HN(O)CQ, or —O(O)CQ; R represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1-24 carbon atoms; phenyl; or benzyl; X represents an anion; d represents 1 or 2; and e represents 1-3; wherein b1×b2=d×e.