Team:Cambridge/Protocols/Spin Coating

Protocol Name

A method of coating a substrate with a thin film of a solution using a revolving stage and a vacuum that together form a spin coater.

Theory

The vacuum is switched on to seal the substrate to the rotor via suction. The rotor is started just as the solution of interest is dropped onto the substrate and the centripetal force caused by the rotation spreads the droplet evenly over the substrate surface in all directions.

Practice

Step 1 We found that a 75 microlitre drop of solution dropped onto a substrate around 3-4cm^2 worked well. This is prepared in a pipette and held above the spincoater through an access hole (this should all take place in the fumehood if using hazardous solvents and with the spin coater sealed shut to protect from the otherwise high risk of chemical splash.

Step 2 Initiate the rotor at the same time the solution is dropped. We used 3000rpm for 30 seconds for spin coating for almost all of the spin coated films.

Step 3 When the spincoater has finished turn off the vacuum and remove the substrate in order to analyze the film.

Safety

Perform in the fume hood if using hazardous solvents, with the appropriate personal protection equipment (in this case, safety goggles, labcoat and nitrile gloves) Keep the spin coater closed during spin coating.