A method, article of manufacture and apparatus are disclosed for binding successive layers of a "guest specie" such as an atom, cation, anion, organic molecule, and/or pathogen to a substrate or multiple different substrates. Possible substrates include materials with a porous nature; macro, micro and nano porous materials are all candidates. The adsorbent capacity of a substrate is extended by coordinating a layer of bi- or multi-functional ligand (L) to an adsorbed atom or ion or molecule or pathogen, which is then coordinate to a second layer of adsorbed atom or ion or molecule or pathogen.