NovoCoat Inert

NovoCoat Inert Glovebox Coating System

Ultrasonic Thin-Film Coating in an Oxygen- and Moisture-Controlled Glovebox

Many advanced materials can’t be coated in ambient air; even trace oxygen or moisture can alter material properties or prevent thin-film deposition from working at all.

The NovoCoat Inert combines Sono-Tek’s NovoCoat laboratory coating platform with a fully integrated inert atmosphere glovebox, producing uniform thin-film coatings in oxygen- and moisture-controlled environments below 1 ppm. It’s the glovebox variant of the NovoCoat platform, built specifically for materials that the standard open-air NovoCoat can’t process.

Designed for research laboratories, universities, and advanced materials development, the NovoCoat Inert delivers the same programmable ultrasonic spray coating control as the standard NovoCoat, inside a controlled atmosphere.

Typical research applications include semiconductor materials, lithium-ion and solid-state battery components, advanced packaging, perovskite solar cells, organic photovoltaics, OLED displays, organic electronics, and other oxygen-sensitive nanomaterial coatings.

With more than 1,000 Sono-Tek coating systems installed at universities and research institutions worldwide, Sono-Tek coating platforms are an established standard for laboratory thin-film process development.

Built for Oxygen- and Moisture-Sensitive Research

Unlike the standard NovoCoat, the Inert version operates inside a fully enclosed stainless steel glovebox that maintains oxygen and moisture concentrations below 1 ppm.

The system continuously recirculates and purifies the inert atmosphere while monitoring oxygen and moisture levels in real time. Automatic regeneration, pressure control, and dual antechambers let researchers load samples and materials without disrupting the controlled environment.

Compatible with nitrogen, argon, or helium atmospheres, the NovoCoat Inert enables reliable processing of air-sensitive materials that can’t be coated under normal lab conditions.

Ultrasonic Atomization Inside a Controlled Atmosphere

At the core of the NovoCoat Inert is Sono-Tek’s ultrasonic spray nozzle, producing micron-sized droplets that create uniform thin films with minimal overspray. Unlike pressure spray systems, ultrasonic atomization is gentle and highly controllable — reducing material waste while improving coating consistency, even inside a sealed glovebox environment.

Researchers can precisely control:

• Film thickness
• Spray width
• Flow rate
• Deposition rate and deposition rate
• Motion path
• Coating uniformity

The programmable three-axis servo motion platform provides micron-level positioning accuracy, giving repeatable results from early research through pilot-scale development.

Key Features:

• Fully integrated inert atmosphere glovebox with <1 ppm oxygen and moisture
• Programmable XYZ coating platform
• Windows® software with recipe storage and process control
• Continuous oxygen and moisture monitoring
• Automatic chamber regeneration and pressure control
• Dual antechambers for sample transfer without breaking atmosphere
• Stainless steel glovebox construction
• Brushless servo-driven motion system
• Compatible with nitrogen, argon, or helium environments
• Non-clogging ultrasonic spray technology
• Uniform thin-film deposition with minimal overspray
• Configurable with multiple ultrasonic nozzle designs

Ultrasonic Nozzle Options

The NovoCoat Inert can be configured with Sono-Tek’s full family of ultrasonic spray nozzles:

– AccuMist— focused spray for precision line coatings
– MicroMist — ultra-fine spray for micro-scale deposition
– Vortex — conical spray for uniform thin films
– Impact — fan-shaped spray for larger coating areas

What Materials Need Inert Atmosphere Coating?

Oxygen- and moisture-sensitive materials across several fast-growing research areas, including:

– Semiconductor materials research
– Advanced packaging technologies
– Lithium-ion and solid-state batteries
– Perovskite solar cells
– Organic photovoltaics (OPV)
– OLED displays and lighting
– Organic electronics
– Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene dispersions
– Nanomaterial and functional thin-film coatings
– Advanced polymers

The combination of ultrasonic atomization and inert atmosphere processing lets researchers produce uniform coatings while protecting sensitive materials throughout deposition.

Optional Process Enhancements

– Heat and vacuum plates
– Passive vision camera system
– Multiple liquid delivery systems
– Sonic and stirring syringe pumps
– Dual spray head configurations
– Wire and rod coating modules
– Ultrastatic electrostatic chuck
– Advanced filtration systems

Why Researchers Choose NovoCoat Inert

The NovoCoat Inert combines two proven technologies: precision ultrasonic spray coating and a fully integrated inert atmosphere glovebox. Researchers get uniform thin-film coatings, repeatable processes, minimal material consumption, reduced overspray, and safe handling of air-sensitive materials — with an easy path to scale up from lab research to pilot production.

Why Sono-Tek

For more than 50 years, Sono-Tek has led in ultrasonic precision spray coating. Our laboratory coating systems are trusted by universities, national laboratories, government research organizations, and advanced manufacturers worldwide for developing next-generation materials and scalable thin-film processes.

Request a Quote or Demonstration
Discover how the NovoCoat Inert glovebox coating system can accelerate your advanced materials research and thin-film process development. Contact Sono-Tek today to discuss your application with one of our coating specialists.

Visit How Ultrasonic Nozzles Work to learn more about the unique capabilities of ultrasonic spray.