A few glows for this week:

1. I got to observe how to use the flow coater this week, so that was learning a new technique.
2. I am excited that this week I was able to chat with my mentor and get somewhat better of an idea of what I will be doing for my project (see below)
3. I have become an ellipsometry queen. I can now do it without even looking at the protocol I wrote down

A few grows for this week:

1. I need more practice on the flow coater. I got to work on it only for a few minutes, but it will be instrumental that I understand how to use it properly in order to complete my project.
2. I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out a lesson plan around all this. I’ve been able to brainstorm a bit, but am having a little bit of a hard time.
3. Even though I have learned to use the ellipsometer well, I have yet to learn what some of the acronyms are on here, and desire to look it up or ask my mentor so I can fully understand.

More about my project:

We are only in the beginning stages characterizing a thin film polymer called “bottlebrush polymer” (synthesized by my mentor) for use in an anti-fouling membrane. Essentially the goal of the project my project will be to test the efficiency of crosslinkage for bottlebrush polymers. To begin that, first I will cast (or coat) the already synthesized “bottlebrush polymers” via use of a machine called the “flow coater” which is able to lay a very thin sheet of the polymer to a silica substrate slide. (Silica is used because joined with the polymer coat, the it makes distinct colors which gives a rough estimation of what the thickness of the sample is before using a more accurate way to test). The desired thickness of the coat of the polymer film can be determined by the velocity set on the flow coater. Next an ellipsometer is used to test the actual thickness of the samples more accurately. The ellipsometer characterizes the thickness of sample (The machine can also be used to characterize thin films in many different ways) .  Then the samples will be washed (I’m not sure what with yet lol) for a set amount of time and then the thickness measured again. If the polymer has been optimally crosslinked, then the difference in the starting and ending thickness  theoretically should be 0. But since this is reality and its really hard to reach the optimal, the lower the difference between the the starting and ending thickness after the washing, the better crosslinked the bottlebrush polymer films are. This is important for when the anti-fouling membrane would be in contact with water so that it will not get washed away.

This at least is my understanding of what is going on…I will update you guys as I learn more or if anything changes.

This week I have still been working on testing the thickness of slides for my mentor but I am hopeful that at least by next week I can get started on my project so that I do not run out of time.

 Me in front of the ellipsometer

 (flow coater)

(elliposometer–it’s hard to get a good picture of this thing, I will try again later). The red screen is because there is risk of visible or invisible laser radiation. My guess is that it absorbs some of the laser.

Thanks for reading. I hope this week has been a great one for all of you!