In situ spin coater for multimodal grazing incidence x-ray scattering studies

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Thin film fabrication is crucial for advanced materials.
• Real-time monitoring of structural evolution during spin coating is challenging.
• Understanding material self-assembly and crystallization dynamics is key.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a custom-built, in situ, multimodal spin coater system.
• To integrate the spin coater with synchrotron-based X-ray scattering techniques.
• To enable real-time, correlated characterization of thin film formation.

Main Methods:

• Developed a programmable spin coater with an integrated heating stage.
• Coupled the system with grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).
• Incorporated ancillary probes like photoluminescence and optical cameras for multimodal analysis.

Main Results:

• Enabled monitoring of structural evolutions from 2 Å to 150 nm.
• Achieved millisecond temporal resolution during thin film fabrication.
• Observed processes like perovskite crystallization and polymer self-assembly in real-time.

Conclusions:

• The developed system provides a deeper understanding of temporal material processes.
• Facilitates the optimization of conditions for ideal thin film manufacturing.
• Supports correlated data analysis for comprehensive material characterization.