IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-59231-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Science acceleration and accessibility with self-driving labs

Author

Listed:
  • Richard B. Canty

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Jeffrey A. Bennett

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Keith A. Brown

    (Boston University)

  • Tonio Buonassisi

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Sergei V. Kalinin

    (The University of Tennessee)

  • John R. Kitchin

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Benji Maruyama

    (Materials and Manufacturing Directorate)

  • Robert G. Moore

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Joshua Schrier

    (Fordham University)

  • Martin Seifrid

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Shijing Sun

    (University of Washington)

  • Tejs Vegge

    (Technical University of Denmark)

  • Milad Abolhasani

    (North Carolina State University)

Abstract

In the evolving landscape of scientific research, the complexity of global challenges demands innovative approaches to experimental planning and execution. Self-Driving Laboratories (SDLs) automate experimental tasks in chemical and materials sciences and the design and selection of experiments to optimize research processes and reduce material usage. This perspective explores improving access to SDLs via centralized facilities and distributed networks. We discuss the technical and collaborative challenges in realizing SDLs’ potential to enhance human–machine and human–human collaboration, ultimately fostering a more inclusive research community and facilitating previously untenable research projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard B. Canty & Jeffrey A. Bennett & Keith A. Brown & Tonio Buonassisi & Sergei V. Kalinin & John R. Kitchin & Benji Maruyama & Robert G. Moore & Joshua Schrier & Martin Seifrid & Shijing Sun & Tej, 2025. "Science acceleration and accessibility with self-driving labs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59231-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59231-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59231-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-59231-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dietz, Tobias & Klamroth, Kathrin & Kraus, Konstantin & Ruzika, Stefan & Schäfer, Luca E. & Schulze, Britta & Stiglmayr, Michael & Wiecek, Margaret M., 2020. "Introducing multiobjective complex systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 280(2), pages 581-596.
    2. Nathan J. Szymanski & Bernardus Rendy & Yuxing Fei & Rishi E. Kumar & Tanjin He & David Milsted & Matthew J. McDermott & Max Gallant & Ekin Dogus Cubuk & Amil Merchant & Haegyeom Kim & Anubhav Jain & , 2023. "An autonomous laboratory for the accelerated synthesis of novel materials," Nature, Nature, vol. 624(7990), pages 86-91, December.
    3. Steven Chu & Arun Majumdar, 2012. "Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy future," Nature, Nature, vol. 488(7411), pages 294-303, August.
    4. Kapusuzoglu, Berkcan & Mahadevan, Sankaran, 2021. "Information fusion and machine learning for sensitivity analysis using physics knowledge and experimental data," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    5. Kelsey L. Snapp & Benjamin Verdier & Aldair E. Gongora & Samuel Silverman & Adedire D. Adesiji & Elise F. Morgan & Timothy J. Lawton & Emily Whiting & Keith A. Brown, 2024. "Superlative mechanical energy absorbing efficiency discovered through self-driving lab-human partnership," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. Amanda A. Volk & Milad Abolhasani, 2024. "Performance metrics to unleash the power of self-driving labs in chemistry and materials science," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.
    7. Manu Suvarna & Tangsheng Zou & Sok Ho Chong & Yuzhen Ge & Antonio J. Martín & Javier Pérez-Ramírez, 2024. "Active learning streamlines development of high performance catalysts for higher alcohol synthesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    8. Jiaru Bai & Sebastian Mosbach & Connor J. Taylor & Dogancan Karan & Kok Foong Lee & Simon D. Rihm & Jethro Akroyd & Alexei A. Lapkin & Markus Kraft, 2024. "A dynamic knowledge graph approach to distributed self-driving laboratories," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wang, Zixuan & Chen, Zijian & Wang, Boyuan & Wu, Chuang & Zhou, Chao & Peng, Yang & Zhang, Xinyu & Ni, Zongming & Chung, Chi-yung & Chan, Ching-chuen & Yang, Jian & Zhao, Haitao, 2025. "Digital manufacturing of perovskite materials and solar cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PB).
    2. Wang, Yubao & Huang, Xiaozhou & Huang, Zhendong, 2024. "Energy-related uncertainty and Chinese stock market returns," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PB).
    3. Chen, Xuejun & Yang, Yongming & Cui, Zhixin & Shen, Jun, 2019. "Vibration fault diagnosis of wind turbines based on variational mode decomposition and energy entropy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 1100-1109.
    4. Muhammad Habib Ur Rehman & Luigi Coppola & Ernestino Lufrano & Isabella Nicotera & Cataldo Simari, 2023. "Enhancing Water Retention, Transport, and Conductivity Performance in Fuel Cell Applications: Nafion-Based Nanocomposite Membranes with Organomodified Graphene Oxide Nanoplatelets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-11, November.
    5. Pin Li & Jinsuo Zhang, 2019. "Is China’s Energy Supply Sustainable? New Research Model Based on the Exponential Smoothing and GM(1,1) Methods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-30, January.
    6. Mao, Guozhu & Zou, Hongyang & Chen, Guanyi & Du, Huibin & Zuo, Jian, 2015. "Past, current and future of biomass energy research: A bibliometric analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 1823-1833.
    7. Luo, Rongrong & Wang, Liuwei & Yu, Wei & Shao, Feilong & Shen, Haikuo & Xie, Huaqing, 2023. "High energy storage density titanium nitride-pentaerythritol solid–solid composite phase change materials for light-thermal-electric conversion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    8. Chen, Dongfang & Pan, Lyuming & Pei, Pucheng & Huang, Shangwei & Ren, Peng & Song, Xin, 2021. "Carbon-coated oxygen vacancies-rich Co3O4 nanoarrays grow on nickel foam as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for rechargeable zinc-air batteries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    9. Géremi Gilson Dranka & Paula Ferreira, 2020. "Electric Vehicles and Biofuels Synergies in the Brazilian Energy System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-22, August.
    10. Yang, Jingluan & Chen, Wei, 2023. "Unravelling the landscape of global cobalt trade: Patterns, robustness, and supply chain security," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    11. Hughes, William & Zhang, Wei & Cerrai, Diego & Bagtzoglou, Amvrossios & Wanik, David & Anagnostou, Emmanouil, 2022. "A Hybrid Physics-Based and Data-Driven Model for Power Distribution System Infrastructure Hardening and Outage Simulation," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    12. Lili Zhang & Ning Zhang & Huishan Shang & Zhiyi Sun & Zihao Wei & Jingtao Wang & Yuanting Lei & Xiaochen Wang & Dan Wang & Yafei Zhao & Zhongti Sun & Fang Zhang & Xu Xiang & Bing Zhang & Wenxing Chen, 2024. "High-density asymmetric iron dual-atom sites for efficient and stable electrochemical water oxidation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    13. Neves, Renato Cruz & Klein, Bruno Colling & da Silva, Ricardo Justino & Rezende, Mylene Cristina Alves Ferreira & Funke, Axel & Olivarez-Gómez, Edgardo & Bonomi, Antonio & Maciel-Filho, Rubens, 2020. "A vision on biomass-to-liquids (BTL) thermochemical routes in integrated sugarcane biorefineries for biojet fuel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    14. Li, Jinpeng & Chen, Xiangjie & Li, Guiqiang, 2023. "Effect of separation wavelength on a novel solar-driven hybrid hydrogen production system (SDHPS) by solar full spectrum energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    15. Sicong Wang & Changhai Qin & Yong Zhao & Jing Zhao & Yuping Han, 2023. "The Evolutionary Path of the Center of Gravity for Water Use, the Population, and the Economy, and Their Decomposed Contributions in China from 1965 to 2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-20, June.
    16. Cheng, Qian & Liu, Pan & Xia, Qian & Cheng, Lei & Ming, Bo & Zhang, Wei & Xu, Weifeng & Zheng, Yalian & Han, Dongyang & Xia, Jun, 2023. "An analytical method to evaluate curtailment of hydro–photovoltaic hybrid energy systems and its implication under climate change," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    17. Feng Zhou & Chunhui Wen, 2023. "Research on the Level of Agricultural Green Development, Regional Disparities, and Dynamic Distribution Evolution in China from the Perspective of Sustainable Development," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-47, July.
    18. Zhang, Kaiqiang & Jia, Na & Liu, Lirong, 2019. "CO2 storage in fractured nanopores underground: Phase behaviour study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 911-928.
    19. Chen, Xinhui & Wei, Jianfeng & Sheng, Songwei & Wang, Wensheng & Wang, Kunlin & Zhang, Yaqun & Wang, Zhenpeng, 2023. "Design and experimental study of a novel type water-filled submerged flexible bag wave energy converter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    20. Cai, Hua & Hu, Xiaojun & Xu, Ming, 2013. "Impact of emerging clean vehicle system on water stress," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 644-651.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59231-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.