Glass Substrate Cleaning

Purpose[edit | edit source]

Glass substrates are used in many laboratory settings. Clean slides prevent contamination of the sample allow for correct deposition of materials. The primary function of this method is to provide a strategy to remove everything from a glass substrate surface. This would effectively make the used slides function as if they were new slides.

Methodology[edit | edit source]

Method 1 (For cleaned substrates with higher tolerances)

Acetone[edit | edit source]

Pour Acetone in a container and warm it up on a hot plate (not exceeding 55 deg C).

Place glass substrate in warm Acetone for 10 minutes.

Place glass substrate in methanol for 2-5 minutes.

Remove and rinse in DI water, then blow dry with nitrogen gas (if possible ultrasonically clean in solution).

Propan-2-ol[edit | edit source]

Apply to slide, dry with nitrogen gas (if possible ultrasonically clean in solution).

Deionized Water[edit | edit source]

Apply to slide, dry with nitrogen gas (if possible ultrasonically clean in solution).

Each solution can be made into a heated bath to improve the cleaning effect.


Method 2 (For cleaned substrates with tighter tolerances)

Alkaline Solution(dawn dish soap)[edit | edit source]

Apply to slide, rub with paper towel and rinse off (if possible ultrasonically clean in solution).

Acetone [1][edit | edit source]

Pour Acetone in a container and warm it up on a hot plate (not exceeding 55 deg C).

Place glass substrate in warm Acetone for 10 minutes.

Place glass substrate in methanol for 2-5 minutes.

Remove and rinse in DI water, then blow dry with nitrogen gas (if possible ultrasonically clean in solution).

Methanolic HCl [2][edit | edit source]

Dip slide in 1:1 MeOH:HCl for 30 minutes, then rinse in DI water, and dry under Nitrogen gas.

Oxygen Etching[edit | edit source]

Follow proper protocol for device used.

Propan-2-ol [3][edit | edit source]

Dip slide in 10% KOH in isopropanol for 30 minutes, rinse in DI water, dry under Nitrogen gas.

Sodium Hydroxide [4] (Acid Bath)[edit | edit source]

Dip slide for 20 minutes in 1M NaOH solution, incubate for 30 minutes in Piranha solution (Optional), rinse in DI water, dry under Nitrogen gas.

Applications[edit | edit source]

  • General substrate control.
  • Micro-scale cleaning

Cost[edit | edit source]

Method Cost of Solution (Per Litre) Cost/Batch (30 Substrates dipped in 200ml of Solution)
Acetone $25-40 $5-8
Propanol $20-40 $4-8
Dawn dish soap $10-15 $2-3
Methanolic HCl $40-80 (mixture of Hcl and MeOH) $8-16 (100ml MeOH + 100ml HCl)
Propanol $28-40 $5.6-8
Sodium Hydroxide $18-52 $3.6-10.4

References[edit | edit source]

  1. UC Irvine. "Cleaning procedures for glass substrates," PDF
  2. J.J Cras, C.A Rowe-Taitt, D.A Nivens, F.S Ligler. "Comparison of chemical cleaning methods of glass in preparation for salinization," Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol.14, No. 8-9, pp.683-688, Dec 1999
  3. J.J Cras, C.A Rowe-Taitt, D.A Nivens, F.S Ligler. "Comparison of chemical cleaning methods of glass in preparation for salinization," Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol.14, No. 8-9, pp.683-688, Dec 1999
  4. J.J Cras, C.A Rowe-Taitt, D.A Nivens, F.S Ligler. "Comparison of chemical cleaning methods of glass in preparation for salinization," Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol.14, No. 8-9, pp.683-688, Dec 1999
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