Affordable Automated Modules for Lab-Scale High-Throughput Synthesis of Inorganic Materials.
Journal:
Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Published Date:
Jul 30, 2025
Abstract
The development of sustainable advanced materials is increasingly driven by the need for sustainable, faster, scalable, and more efficient research workflows. Advancements in computational screening, high-throughput experimentation, and artificial intelligence (AI) are accelerating progress in materials discovery. To fully leverage the benefits of these complementary approaches, the implementation of materials acceleration platforms (MAPs) and self-driving laboratories (SDL) has emerged as a promising strategy. Here, we present the development of a semi-automated station for the lab-scale high-throughput synthesis (HTS) of inorganic materials, as part of the Materials Acceleration and Innovation plaTform for ENergy Applications (MAITENA). The system integrates two in-house-designed liquid-handling modules capable of performing sol-gel, Pechini, solid-state, and hydro/solvothermal syntheses. Each module enables the preparation of several dozen gram-scale samples per week with high reproducibility and minimal manual intervention. The system's capabilities are demonstrated through three case studies involving Li-ion battery materials. Results highlight the module's utilization for efficient screening of compositions and synthesis conditions to vary materials' properties. This accessible and modular infrastructure offers a practical route to implementing high-throughput strategies in inorganic materials research.
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