Improved methods and articles providing conformal coatings for a variety of devices including electronic, semiconductor, and liquid crystal display devices. Peptide formulations which bind to nanoparticles and substrates, including substrates with trenches and vias, to provide conformal coverage as a seed layer. The seed layer can be further enhanced with use of metallic films deposited on the seed layer. Seed layers can be characterized by AFM measurements and improved seed layers provide for better enhancement layers including lower resistivity in the enhancement layer. Peptides can be identified by phage display.