A Low-Cost, Closed-Loop Nanomaterials Synthesis Automation Platform

Conventional nanomaterials synthesis schemes can be labor- and time-intensive, which significantly impedes the pace of new materials discovery and their applications. Semi-automated and fully automated platforms, in combination with data-science principles and artificial intelligence, have become an emerging paradigm for accelerated materials discovery. The combination of high-throughput experimentation and minimal human interactions with the system have allowed faster material synthesis, characterization, and analysis. However, many of these initiatives are still too costly to be implemented. In this context, open hardware principles have made the use of laboratory automation more accessible and more easily implemented for a variety of applications. We have demonstrated the use of a versatile automatic tool-changing platform (Jubilee) configured for automated ultrasound application, a liquid-handling robot (Opentrons OT2) and a well-plate spectrometer for the synthesis of CdSe nanocrystals. A total of 625 unique sample conditions were prepared and analyzed in triplicate with an individual sample volume of as little as 0.5 mL, which drastically reduced chemical waste and experimental time. Furthermore, we coupled the high-throughput workflow to a data-driven approach for the interpretation of the results provided a holistic view of the design space investigated. While successful, the previous study relied on three different instruments to conduct the workflow. Further improvements have allowed for integrating all the synthesis, processing, and characterization tools onto the same Jubilee platform for a closed-loop experimental campaign. This new ecosystem uses a simple Python API and allows for new tools to be easily integrated and interfaced, for simpler experimental orchestration. Thanks to the high-throughput capabilities of this low-cost and open-hardware platform, the ease in scalability of the system, and the modularity of the protocol, the overall workflow was adapted to study a variety of nanocrystal design spaces.