Digital and Automated Molecular Science Lab

The digital automated molecular science provides state of the art data-driven robotic chemistry capability to support fundamental and translational molecular discovery.

This capability is part of a $2.7 million investment from the ARC and a consortium of NSW-based universities. This combines technical capability in the form of advanced chemistry robots and combines it with machine-learning approaches to rapidly develop routes to high value molecules and materials. The capability consists of six automated chemistry platforms distributed across three sites and a remote node in Armidale. These systems can simultaneously carry out thousands of chemical reactions, materials preparations and formulations.

Our capability can contribute to rapid discovery of more sustainable products for the paint, pharmaceutical, and agriculture industries.

• Two Unchained Junior Chemistry Robots housed in a purge box.

• LEA Enterprise software for import from machine learning software.

• The systems can be used for machine-learning driven optimization of chemical processes and formulation development.

• Optimisation of continuous and categorical variables in chemical processes.

• Additive, reagent, catalyst screening

• Over 3000 processes can be run at a time using 384 well plate formats. 

• Multi-objective optimization.
  • Yield, selectivity, physical properties 

• Automated sample preparation

Dispensing Robot

• Automated sub milligram-gram solid weighing
• Automated liquid, viscous liquid and dispersion dispensing by positive displacement
• Visual inspection of dispensed samples using analytic balance camera
• Static minimised by an ioniser
• Vortexing and heating bay

Screening Robot

• Six independent temperature zones capable of running processes from –20 to 180 °C
• Vortexing and magnetic stirring capability
• Automated sample preparation and reaction sampling via heated four-needle tip
• Automated liquid-liquid extraction 
• Scales from <1 mL to >100 mL
• Photochemistry 
• Heated sample filtration

Funding: ARC LIEF LE250100055

Industry and collaboration contacts

Academic lead

Professor Chris Hyland 
Email: chris_hyland@uow.edu.au 

Technical support

Dr Andrew Tague
Email: andrew_tague@uow.edu.au