The Spin-Grower: A Machine for Rapid Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Nanostructured Materials

Abstract

Layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly is a well-established method of producing multilayered nanostructured materials. In Professor Nicholas A. Kotov’s lab at the University of Michigan, LBL assembly is often accomplished via a dip-coating process, which is time consuming and often performed on unreliable equipment. Spin-assisted LBL assembly has the potential to reduce the fabrication time of nanostructured materials by an order of magnitude and increase the quality of the films. The purpose of this project is to design and produce a spin-assisted LBL assembly prototype using a spin-coater and an automated fluid delivery system for the production of a variety of different nanocomposites.