The invention relates to a process for the production of a structured electrically conductive coating on a substrate, in which first a monolayer or oligolayer of a surface-hydrophobizing substance is applied to a surface of the substrate and then a substance comprising electrically conductive particles is applied to the substrate according to a predetermined pattern. The invention furthermore relates to a use of the process for the production of solar cells or circuit boards and to an electronic component comprising a substrate to which a structured electrically conductive surface is applied, a monolayer or oligolayer of a surface-hydrophobizing material being applied to the substrate and the structured electrically conductive surface being applied to the monolayer or oligolayer.