Modular, multi-robot integration of laboratories: an autonomous workflow for solid-state chemistry


Lunt, Amy M, Fakhruldeen, Hatem, Pizzuto, Gabriella ORCID: 0000-0002-8541-0759, Longley, Louis, White, Alexander, Rankin, Nicola, Clowes, Rob ORCID: 0009-0002-4686-2119, Alston, Ben ORCID: 0000-0001-8255-7950, Gigli, Lucia, Day, Graeme M et al (show 2 more authors) (2024) Modular, multi-robot integration of laboratories: an autonomous workflow for solid-state chemistry CHEMICAL SCIENCE, 15 (7). pp. 2456-2463. ISSN 2041-6520, 2041-6539

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Abstract

Automation can transform productivity in research activities that use liquid handling, such as organic synthesis, but it has made less impact in materials laboratories, which require sample preparation steps and a range of solid-state characterization techniques. For example, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) is a key method in materials and pharmaceutical chemistry, but its end-to-end automation is challenging because it involves solid powder handling and sample processing. Here we present a fully autonomous solid-state workflow for PXRD experiments that can match or even surpass manual data quality, encompassing crystal growth, sample preparation, and automated data capture. The workflow involves 12 steps performed by a team of three multipurpose robots, illustrating the power of flexible, modular automation to integrate complex, multitask laboratories.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 3402 Inorganic Chemistry, 34 Chemical Sciences
Divisions: Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science
Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Physical Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 06 Mar 2024 10:05
Last Modified: 16 Jun 2026 20:06
DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06206f
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SC06206F
Related Websites:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3179144
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