Fig. 2: Scheme of the platform workflow for the hierarchical evolution of AuNPs.
From: A nanomaterials discovery robot for the Darwinian evolution of shape programmable gold nanoparticles
(proceeding clockwise from top left position) The platform itself (see SI for build details). Each new series of reaction generations aims for a specified spectral target, beginning with a random exploration of the chemical space. Volumes of stock reagents are initially selected at random, dispensed by the platform and analysed by in-line UV-Vis spectroscopy. The resultant spectra are assigned a fitness value and evaluated via our genetic algorithm. The algorithm mutates the experimental parameters and crosses them over attributes of the highest fitness samples to generate new experimental parameters for the next generation. The cycle repeats until the target was reacted, each 15-reaction generation of a given series proceeding towards the predefined spectra.
