Spin coating on a budget: A 3D-Printed all-mechanical alternative for cost-effective thin-film deposition

Abstract

Spin coating stands out as the most employed thin-film deposition technique across a variety of scientific fields. Particularly in the past two decades, spin coaters have become increasingly popular due to the emergence of solution-processed semiconductors such as quantum dots and perovskites. However, acquiring commercial spin coaters from reputable suppliers remains a significant financial burden for many laboratories, particularly for smaller research or educational facilities. Prompted by the simple mechanical principles of the device, in this work, we present a 3D-printed analogue that can be printed and assembled in under 10 h and costs less than 5 euros per device. The operating principle is fully mechanical since the rotating motion is induced by gas flow. It does not require any additional components such as DC motors, motor drivers, circuitry or software and thus it can be fully operational off the grid. Additionally, the gas flow generates a purging effect that was found to be rather advantageous for film formation. To prove the effectiveness of this device, we have employed it to fabricate planar thin-film antimony sulfide (Sb${}_2$S${}_3$) solar cells. The optoelectronic characteristics of solar cells revealed noteworthy improvements, particularly in terms of repeatability, when compared to those fabricated with a commercial spin coater.