scholarly journals The evolution of Materials Acceleration Platforms: toward the laboratory of the future with AMANDA

Author(s):  
Jerrit Wagner ◽  
Christian G. Berger ◽  
Xiaoyan Du ◽  
Tobias Stubhan ◽  
Jens A. Hauch ◽  
...  

AbstractThe development of complex functional materials poses a multi-objective optimization problem in a large multi-dimensional parameter space. Solving it requires reproducible, user-independent laboratory work and intelligent preselection of experiments. However, experimental materials science is a field where manual routines are still predominant, although other domains like pharmacy or chemistry have long used robotics and automation. As the number of publications on Materials Acceleration Platforms (MAPs) increases steadily, we review selected systems and fit them into the stages of a general material development process to examine the evolution of MAPs. Subsequently, we present our approach to laboratory automation in materials science. We introduce AMANDA (Autonomous Materials and Device Application Platform - www.amanda-platform.com), a generic platform for distributed materials research comprising a self-developed software backbone and several MAPs. One of them, LineOne (L1), is specifically designed to produce and characterize solution-processed thin-film devices like organic solar cells (OSC). It is designed to perform precise closed-loop screenings of up to 272 device variations per day yet allows further upscaling. Each individual solar cell is fully characterized, and all process steps are comprehensively documented. We want to demonstrate the capabilities of AMANDA L1 with OSCs based on PM6:Y6 with 13.7% efficiency when processed in air. Further, we discuss challenges and opportunities of highly automated research platforms and elaborate on the future integration of additional techniques, methods and algorithms in order to advance to fully autonomous self-optimizing systems—a paradigm shift in functional materials development leading to the laboratory of the future.

2008 ◽  
Vol 571-572 ◽  
pp. 261-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Schell ◽  
René V. Martins ◽  
Felix Beckmann ◽  
Hans Ulrich Ruhnau ◽  
Rüdiger Kiehn ◽  
...  

The future High Energy Materials Science Beamline HEMS at the new German high brilliance synchrotron radiation storage ring PETRA III [1] will have a main energy of 120 keV, will be fully tunable in the range of 50 to 300 keV, and will be optimized for sub-micrometer focusing with Compound Refractive Lenses and Kirkpatrick-Baez Multilayer mirrors. Design and construction is the responsibility of the Research Center Geesthacht, GKSS, with approximately 70 % of the beamtime being dedicated to Materials Research, the rest reserved for “general physics” experiments covered by DESY, Hamburg. Fundamental research will encompass metallurgy, physics and chemistry. For first experiments in investigating grain-grain-interactions a dedicated 3D-microstructure-mapper will be designed. Applied research for manufacturing process optimization will benefit from the high flux in combination with ultra-fast detector systems allowing complex and highly dynamic in-situ studies of microstructural transformations. The beamline infrastructure will allow easy accommodation of large user provided equipment. Experiments targeting the industrial user community will be based on well established techniques with standardised evaluation, allowing "full service" measurements. Environments for strain mapping [2] on large structural components up to 1 t will be provided as well as automated investigations of large numbers of samples, e.g. for tomography and texture determination. The current design for the beamline (P07 in sector 5 of the future experimental hall) consists of a nearly five meter in-vacuum undulator source (U19-5) optimized for high energies, a general optics hutch, an in-house test facility and three independent experimental hutches working alternately, plus additional set-up and storage space for long-term experiments. HEMS should be operational in spring 2009 as one of the first beamlines running at PETRA III.


1985 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don L. Morel

AbstractA survey of the materials issues involved in the development of thin film Si:H power modules is presented. Though there are significant opportunities for advancement of Si:H itself, especially in terms of new alloys, the range of opportunities is extended dramatically when all aspects of the product -- from gaseous fuels through encapsulants -- are included. Examples from each of these areas are presented to Indicate the current state of development as well as the needs for the future. Viable products exist today, but the extent of greater success depends critically on materials innovation.


MRS Bulletin ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 31 (11) ◽  
pp. 869-873 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Elliott ◽  
Bruno Hancock

AbstractThe discipline of materials science has most commonly been associated with the study of structural or functional materials for engineering applications, such as metals, ceramics, and composites, but there are now, increasingly, great opportunities involving applications to soft matter, including polymers, powders, and biomaterials. The emerging discipline of pharmaceutical materials science attempts to apply physical principles common in materials science to challenges in such areas as drug delivery, control of drug form, manufacture and processing of nanoscopic and microscopic particle systems, and the structure and properties of bulk powders and their assemblies (e.g., tablets) for use in pharmaceutical applications. In this issue of MRS Bulletin, we have attempted to capture a snapshot of this rapidly developing new area of materials research, in order to bring it to the attention of the wider materials science community.


2005 ◽  
Vol 909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Vanasupa

AbstractIn materials research, the current funding focus has shifted from largely mechanical-properties based aspects of materials to their molecular-level chemical nature, such as biomaterials or nanoscale phenomenon. Along with this shift in emphasis, we have seen many undergraduate materials programs become absorbed by other programs as a concentration in other engineering majors. Many programs have absolved departments in favor of a model where faculty from a variety of departments have adjunct appointments in, say, an interdisciplinary materials science and engineering program. What exactly is the fate of undergraduate materials programs? Is it time for materials science and engineering undergraduate programs to be absorbed into the sea of interdisciplinarity? In this talk, I will present data on the landscape of trends within the undergraduate materials community against the changes in the global arena. What is our role as materials science and engineering educators in the societal state of flux that we face? What are the opportunities? In an attempt to see into the future, we will consider all these questions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 05 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silas Santos ◽  
Orlando Rodrigues ◽  
Letícia Campos

Background: Innovation mission in materials science requires new approaches to form functional materials, wherein the concept of its formation begins in nano/micro scale. Rare earth oxides with general form (RE2O3; RE from La to Lu, including Sc and Y) exhibit particular proprieties, being used in a vast field of applications with high technological content since agriculture to astronomy. Despite of their applicability, there is a lack of studies on surface chemistry of rare earth oxides. Zeta potential determination provides key parameters to form smart materials by controlling interparticle forces, as well as their evolution during processing. This paper reports a study on zeta potential with emphasis for rare earth oxide nanoparticles. A brief overview on rare earths, as well as zeta potential, including sample preparation, measurement parameters, and the most common mistakes during this evaluation are reported. Methods: A brief overview on rare earths, including zeta potential, and interparticle forces are presented. A practical study on zeta potential of rare earth oxides - RE2O3 (RE as Y, Dy, Tm, Eu, and Ce) in aqueous media is reported. Moreover, sample preparation, measurement parameters, and common mistakes during this evaluation are discussed. Results: Potential zeta values depend on particle characteristics such as size, shape, density, and surface area. Besides, preparation of samples which involves electrolyte concentration and time for homogenization of suspensions are extremely valuable to get suitable results. Conclusion: Zeta potential evaluation provides key parameters to produce smart materials seeing that interparticle forces can be controlled. Even though zeta potential characterization is mature, investigations on rare earth oxides are very scarce. Therefore, this innovative paper is a valuable contribution on this field.


Author(s):  
Tae-eun Kim ◽  
Amit Sharma ◽  
Morten Bustgaard ◽  
William C. Gyldensten ◽  
Ole Kristian Nymoen ◽  
...  

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to the maritime supply chain and called for accelerated adoption of digital technologies in various aspects of maritime operations, including the area of maritime education and training (MET). This paper aims to discuss the current maritime simulator-based training and educational practices that forms an integral part in seafarer training and competency development. The study provides a review of the existing simulators in use in MET, and discusses upon the technological and pedagogical advancement of maritime simulator-based training interventions with predictions regarding the future MET practices with use of virtual reality and cloud-based simulators. This study—by focusing on ship’s bridge operations—highlights the characteristics of various types of simulators and also discusses the role of instructors, challenges, and opportunities involving future simulator-based MET due to accelerated adoption of digital technologies and the need to comply with pandemic-related restrictions for MET institutes. The analysis generated in the paper may contribute to the ongoing discussion regarding the future of simulator-based MET and the fulfillment of the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 in the maritime sector.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Wellmann

AbstractThroughout human history, most further developments or new achievements were accompanied by new materials or new processes that enabled the technologic progress. With concrete devices and applications in mind, synthesis and subsequent treatment of materials naturally went along with the progress. The aim of the underlying article is to spot the role of optimization, of discovery, of trial-and-error approaches, of fundamentals and curiosity driven design and development. In a consecutive examination, five missions addressing the challenges facing our world (identified by the European Council) will be cross linked with seven topical areas from materials science defined by the European Materials Research Society. The scope of this examination is to identify approaches and methods to further develop and innovate materials which form the basis of the anticipated solutions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4543
Author(s):  
Xuan-Hung Pham ◽  
Seung-min Park ◽  
Bong-Hyun Jun

Nano/micro particles are considered to be the most valuable and important functional materials in the field of materials science and engineering [...]


Ceramics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-40
Author(s):  
Ambreen Nisar ◽  
Cheng Zhang ◽  
Benjamin Boesl ◽  
Arvind Agarwal

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) has gained recognition in the last 20 years for its rapid densification of hard-to-sinter conventional and advanced materials, including metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Herein, we describe the unconventional usages of the SPS technique developed in the field. The potential of various new modifications in the SPS technique, from pressureless to the integration of a novel gas quenching system to extrusion, has led to SPS’ evolution into a completely new manufacturing tool. The SPS technique’s modifications have broadened its usability from merely a densification tool to the fabrication of complex-shaped components, advanced functional materials, functionally gradient materials, interconnected materials, and porous filter materials for real-life applications. The broader application achieved by modification of the SPS technique can provide an alternative to conventional powder metallurgy methods as a scalable manufacturing process. The future challenges and opportunities in this emerging research field have also been identified and presented.


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