This procedure describes the preparation of spin-cast side chain LCE developed in Heino Finkelmann's lab. The total preparation for the material is approximately 48 hours. The image to the right shows an LCE film at the end of the spin casting process.

This material is prepared using a heated centrifuge in a spin casting head. Before starting material preparation, pre-heat the spin casting head to 60 ~ 65^oC.

The first step is preparation of the catalyst solution and reaction solution

1. Compress a small amount of cotton, about the size of an pencil eraser and loosely compress into a ball. If the cottong is compressed too much, it will be difficult for liquid to flow through the cotton. The cotton ball should be easily pulled apart by hand.
2. Gently push the cotton wad down the pipette until it comes to a stop at the neck of the pipette. Gently tap the cotton to wedge it into place, but be careful not to compress the cotton.
3. Put the pipette in a clamp, and add the solution to be filtered through the top of the pipette.
4. As more unwanted 'stuff' is trapped by the cotton, the flow rate of materials through the filter will decrease or may even come to a stop. When this happens, push the liquid through the cotton using a  a pipette bulb or air line may be placed over the open end of the pipette and air forced through the system. 
5. If using a pipette bulb, be careful not to release the bulb and cause a back pressure inside the pipette, this can suck up the cotton wad.
6. The to the right shows the accumulation of insoluble side products trapped by the cotton filter. In the pictures, over 250 mL of reaction solution was passed through the pipette. These filters are single use only.


Glass vial used in preparation of catalyst solution. The white crystalline powder at the front of the vial is the Pt catalyst crystals