Description:
We describe the implementation of an inexpensive spin-coating system to deposit thin films of materials dissolved in a volatile solvent. The system can be easily built with interdisciplinary knowledge of mechanics, fluid mechanics and electronics at undergraduate level. The system allows the deposition of thin films of up to 5cm2in area and is constructed from a commercial DVD player drive motor and an electronic circuit designed to control the spinning speedand spinning time up to 10,000rpm and 60seg, respectively. In our design, both variables can be adjusted manually through an array of micro push button switches and a varistor. To illustrate the use of our spin-coating system, were prepared films of MDMO-PPV conjugated polymer from solutions in chlorobenzene and tetrahydrofuran and their optical absorption and photoluminescence properties are analyzed and discussed.