US opens world-first self-driving robot lab for next-gen quantum tech

Source: interestingengineering
Author: @IntEngineering
Published: 8/26/2025
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Read original articleResearchers at North Carolina State University have developed Rainbow, the world’s first multi-robot self-driving laboratory designed to accelerate the discovery and optimization of quantum dots—semiconductor nanoparticles critical for future technologies like solar cells, LEDs, displays, and quantum devices. This autonomous system integrates multiple robots that prepare chemical precursors, conduct up to 96 simultaneous reactions using miniaturized batch reactors, and perform real-time optical analysis of the products. Guided by machine learning algorithms, Rainbow can independently design and execute up to 1,000 experiments daily, dramatically outpacing traditional human-led research and enabling rapid identification of optimal synthesis recipes based on user-defined target properties.
Beyond speed, Rainbow offers deeper scientific insights by exploring a wider range of chemical precursors and ligand structures, which influence the quantum dots’ properties. This flexibility enhances the potential for discovering novel, high-performance materials and understanding the underlying reasons for their effectiveness. Importantly, the platform is designed to empower scientists by automating labor-intensive experimental tasks, allowing researchers
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robotquantum-dotsself-driving-labAI-in-chemistrymaterials-discoverysemiconductor-nanoparticlesenergy-materials