Self-driving lab for the photochemical synthesis of plasmonic nanoparticles with targeted structural and optical properties

Many applications of plasmonic nanoparticles require precise control of their optical properties that are governed by nanoparticle dimensions, shape, morphology and composition. Finding reaction conditions for the synthesis of nanoparticles with targeted characteristics is a time-consuming and resource-intensive trial-and-error process, however closed-loop nanoparticle synthesis enables the accelerated exploration of large chemical spaces without human intervention. Here, we introduce the Autonomous Fluidic Identification and Optimization Nanochemistry (AFION) self-driving lab that integrates a microfluidic reactor, in-flow spectroscopic nanoparticle characterization, and machine learning for the exploration…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 1940959, 2420490
• UO
  University of Toronto
• CF
  Canada First Research Excellence Fund
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

  Awards: 534584-2019, PGSD3-534584-2019, PGSD3