Carbon Nanotube using an Autonomous Research System (ARES)

The current materials research process is so slow and expensive, taking decades from invention to commercialization. This has negatively impacted technologically important materials like carbon nanotubes. In order to address this crucial issue, the Air Force Research Laboratory pioneered ARES™, the first autonomous research system for materials development. ARES employs advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) along with modeling and simulation towards controlled growth of carbon nanotubes. In this talk, we will discuss recent efforts in combining autonomous experimentation with modeling to understand and control the fundamental mechanisms that drive CNT synthesis via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). ARES is one of many emerging materials platforms and self driving labs that are pioneering materials research and speeding up their development.