Self-Driving Platform for Metal Nanoparticle Synthesis: Combining Microfluidics and Machine Learning

Many applications of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), including photocatalysis, photovoltaics, chemical and biochemical sensing, and theranostics, are governed by NP optical properties. Exploration and identification of reaction conditions for the synthesis of NPs with targeted spectroscopic characteristics is a time-, labor-, and resource-intensive task, as it involves the optimization of multiple interdependent reaction conditions. Integration of machine learning (ML) and microfluidics (MF) offers accelerated identification and optimization of reaction conditions for NP synthesis. Here, an autonomous ML-driven, oscillatory MF platform for the synthesis of NPs is reported. The platform utilized multiple recipes and reaction times for the synthesis of NPs with different dimensions, conducted spectroscopic NP characterization, and employed ML approaches to analyze multiple yet prioritized spectroscopic NP characteristics, and identified reaction conditions for the synthesis of NPs with targeted optical properties. The platform is also used to develop an understanding of the relationship between reaction conditions and NP properties. This study shows the strong potential of ML-driven oscillatory MF platforms in materials science and paves the way for automated NP development.