Scientific Workflows and Autonomous Analysis in Solid-State Synthesis with A-Lab

A-lab is an autonomous facility for the closed-loop synthesis of inorganic materials from powder precursors. All synthesis and characterization actions in A-lab, including powder mixing and grinding, firing, characterization by XRD and SEM, and all sample transfers between them are fully automated, leading to a lab that can synthesize and structurally characterize compounds within 10-20 hrs of initiation. The A-lab leverages ab-initio computations through an API with the Materials Project, historical data sets that are text-mined from the literature, machine learning for optimization of synthesis routes and interpretation of characterization data, and active learning to plan and interpret the outcomes of experiments performed using robotics. I will demonstrate multi-source decision making through the integration of automated XRD and SEM sample preparation and analysis. The automation of synthesis and analysis can be further integrated into scientific workflows similar to computational workflows.