Automated, Modular Cyclic Voltammetry Experiments

Automation is increasingly crucial in cutting-edge science. Automated experiments can achieve greater accuracy and consistency at a large scale, enhancing both the quantity and quality of generated data. Furthermore, automated experimental systems with modular components enable artificial intelligence (AI)-driven autonomous experiments, a rapidly advancing field with proven results. Electrochemistry plays a crucial role in fields as diverse as materials development, energy generation and storage, drug discovery, and environmental chemistry. The complexity and diversity of electrochemical experiments demand dynamic automation systems capable of adapting to a wide range of experimental protocols and conditions. Here we present an automated system that integrates robotic hardware with our innovative ExpFlow software to streamline various electrochemical experiments. Our software efficiently translates human-developed protocols into a workflow of modular but connected robotic actions, launched and managed with the robust job management software Fireworks. Our hardware includes a robotic arm and modularized stations for actions such as dispensing liquid, measuring solution density, weighing, collecting data, etc. The system’s modularity allows researchers and/or AI to customize and expand its capabilities as needed. When validated with well-known electroactive systems, our system yields results that closely align with established literature values. This approach accelerates research, promotes reproducibility, and paves the way for large-scale, data-driven discoveries in electrochemistry.