Best practices for automated electrochemistry (tool and workflow design)

Tools
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  1. What existing solutions/examples have you implemented or heard about?
  2. How is the movement of the (usually working) electrode in and out of the electrolyte handled?
  3. How are automated electrical disconnects and re-connects handled, if at all?
  4. How do you approach liquid handling for hazardous materials (e.g., KOH) which can also be at high temperatures? (e.g., materials used, safety / robustness / cost)

cc @nisfisker, @nipun.0092, @yangbai

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Here are some references you might find interesting:

Parallel Reaction System: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.3c00022
Homemade System (similar to our OT setup): DOI: 10.1016/j.device.2023.100103
John Gregoire’s Work on HT Electrocatalysis Measurement: This paper includes a system capable of collecting gas products, which the above two systems lack. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsenergylett.1c02762

The ability to handle hazardous materials depends on the materials used to construct the reactor. Most reactors should be capable of this, especially those made with PEEK. However, high-temperature reactions are more challenging, as they often require reactors made from stable, heat-conductive metals like titanium. This can introduce risks such as metal contamination in the reaction and metals are usually electrical conductive. So, we typically use PEEK, although it is unsuitable for high-temperature reactions. Recently, Kelvin and I have been discussing materials that are non-Econductive, thermally conductive, and chemically resistant for reactor construction—Kelvin might have some ideas on this.

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