Quantitative control and recording of materials-synthesis processes using an automated experimentation platform

Abstract

Data-driven materials development requires the collection of large amounts of high-quality materials data. Full autonomy of materials experiments is anticipated, but its technical hurdles are high and its adoption remains limited. In this study, we constructed a simple, easy-to-deploy automated experimentation platform that focuses not on full autonomy but on the reliable automation and quantitative recording of experimental processes. Specifically, commercially available instruments such as robot arms, electric pipettes, web cameras, and an electronic balance are combined, components such as fixtures are fabricated with a 3D printer, and the instruments are operated by control code generated by an AI agent based on a large language model. As a demonstration, we applied the platform to a two-solution mixing experimental system and synthesized ZIF-8, a metal-organic framework. A white suspension phase was observed in the product, and X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed that it was ZIF-8. We also found that its particle size distribution depends strongly on the solution dispensing speed of the electric pipette, which is a parameter that is difficult to control or record in manual operation. This dependence was reproduced in repeated runs, confirming the repeatability of the automated synthesis. This result is a good example showing that the control and recording of process parameters that are rarely quantified in manual work can govern the quality of materials data. All control code, CAD models, and documentation are made publicly available to encourage the spread of laboratory-scale automation of experiments.