Abstract: Methods of contacting a surface of an object with a liquid are provided. Aspects of the invention include positioning an object in a reaction chamber and flowing a liquid across a surface of the object, where at least a portion of the flowing step occurs in the presence of a gas that limits evaporation of a solvent component of the liquid. Also provided are devices for practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: Methods and devices for determining a quality of a substrate surface are provided. Embodiments of the subject methods include producing a plurality of droplets on the surface of a substrate, illuminating the droplet-coated surface, observing a resultant optical property from the surface; and evaluating a quality of the substrate based on the observed optical property. In certain embodiments, an evaluated substrate is one which is to be used in the fabrication of an array assembly and the evaluation is performed prior to fabricating an array on the subject surface. In certain embodiments, an evaluated substrate is one which includes one or more arrays thereon and the evaluation is performed subsequent to the fabrication of the array on the substrate, e.g., to evaluate the quality of the features of the fabricated array. Also provided are apparatuses, systems and kits for use in practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for forming a reaction chamber having relatively small volumes. An apparatus comprises two elements and a mechanism for introducing a gas to form a movable aerodynamic seal between the elements. In this manner a chamber having a controllable interior environment is formed. One of the elements may have at least a portion of a device for dispensing reagents sealingly affixed therein. The other element may be adapted for introduction of a support into the interior of the chamber formed by the top and the bottom element. The apparatus may be used in methods for synthesizing biopolymers on a support.