The Materials Project at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory used AI technology (Google DeepMind) to predict the structures of more than 150,000 new materials, particularly for clean energy and environmental technologies.
With the team at Labman, Berkeley Lab have created the A-Lab, a system which uses the AI generated information, along with an entirely bespoke system to synthesise the materials in an automated, 24/7 operation pattern.
Labman’s Powder Feeding and Slurry Handling System is a floor standing system designed to produce, homogenise and transfer powder-ethanol slurries. Handling over 200 different powder-based materials in a ‘hotel’ of dispensers, and based around a 6-axis robotic arm, the LBCS system is uniquely suited to creating unique formulations.
The A-Lab combines modern techniques with a modular workflow that can synthesise new materials with minimal human input. Labman’s Slurry Handling System, which is at the centre of the A-Lab worked non-stop for a period of 17 days to successfully realise 41 brand new materials.
Ekin Dogus Cubuk, a staff Research Scientist at Google Brain said:
Normally it can take six months or even years to synthesize a material.
Berkeley Lab are able to synthesise materials faster than ever before, and with a success rate of 71%, the results are accurate and reliable.
Labman worked hand in hand with the Berkeley team and are so proud that our system plays such a crucial role in realising new stable materials.