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Team:Cambridge/Experiments/Reflectin Thin Films I
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==Practice== | ==Practice== | ||
The vacuum centrifuged protein was now visible as white pellets on the base of eppendorf tubes. This pellet was resuspended in HFIP before being [[Team:Cambridge/Protocols/Spin_Coating| spincoated]] or [[ Team:Cambridge/Protocols/Flow_coating | flowcoated]] onto silicon wafers or glass slides which were prepared as described in the [[Team:Cambridge/Protocols/Substrate_Preparation_for_Flow_Coating_and_Spin_Coating|Substrate Preparation Protocol]]. | The vacuum centrifuged protein was now visible as white pellets on the base of eppendorf tubes. This pellet was resuspended in HFIP before being [[Team:Cambridge/Protocols/Spin_Coating| spincoated]] or [[ Team:Cambridge/Protocols/Flow_coating | flowcoated]] onto silicon wafers or glass slides which were prepared as described in the [[Team:Cambridge/Protocols/Substrate_Preparation_for_Flow_Coating_and_Spin_Coating|Substrate Preparation Protocol]]. | ||
| + | As a control we prepared a HFIP (solvent) only thin film - this produced a predominantly colourless, dirty smear, not a smooth colourful thin film. [[File:Cam_HFIP_only_control_thinfilm.jpg | thumb | 200px | left | HFIP only control]] | ||
==Results== | ==Results== | ||
Revision as of 17:57, 28 August 2011
Contents |
Reflectin Thin Films I
The aim of these experiments was to reproduce the flowcoating experiments reported in the literature and pioneer spincoating techniques in addition to performing controls to confirm that any properties of the films made were due to reflectin and not the solvent used in the preparation of the films.
Practice
The vacuum centrifuged protein was now visible as white pellets on the base of eppendorf tubes. This pellet was resuspended in HFIP before being spincoated or flowcoated onto silicon wafers or glass slides which were prepared as described in the Substrate Preparation Protocol.
As a control we prepared a HFIP (solvent) only thin film - this produced a predominantly colourless, dirty smear, not a smooth colourful thin film.
Results
The first reflectin thin films produced some astounding colours, but were far from uniform. Dark objects can be seen in the centre of the regions that vary most in colour. This suggests that the height of the thin film is varying around these supposed impurities.
Safety
