Solvent Effect to the Uniformity of Surfactant-Free Salmon-DNA Thin Films

Fabrication of surfactant-modified DNA thin films with high uniformity, specifically DNA-CTMA, has been well considered via drop-casting and spin-coating techniques. However, the fabrication of thin films with pure DNA has not been sufficiently studied. We characterize the uniformity of thin films from aqueous salmon DNA solutions mixed with ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, and acetone. Measurements of thickness and macroscopic uniformity are made via a focused-beam ellipsometer. We discuss important parameters for optimum uniformity and note what the effects of solvent modifications are. We find that methanol- and ethanol-added solutions provide optimal fabrication methods, which more consistently produce high degrees of uniformity with film thickness ranging from 20 to 200 nm adjusted by DNA concentration and the physical parameters of spin-coating methods.