An Autonomous Laboratory for High-Throughput Air-Sensitive Material Discovery for All-Solid-State Batteries

Halide materials are promising superionic conductors for ASSBs but require moisture-free synthesis, limiting throughput due to manual operation in gloveboxes or dry rooms. An automated robotic system for handling air-sensitive materials in an inert atmosphere would greatly accelerate discovery. Here, we present a fully automated lab for high-throughput solid-state synthesis of halide conductors and other air-sensitive materials. Compact and modular, it operates entirely within an N 2 -protected double-station glovebox. The system includes five automated workstations for solid-state synthesis, with two six-axis robot arms seamlessly handling and transferring samples. By eliminating manual operation in confined spaces, it enhances efficiency and increases throughput. Many halide ionic conductors rely on rare-earth metals or mechanochemical treatments, raising costs and complicating scale-up. Developing compositions synthesizable via conventional heating with earth-abundant precursors is essential. Using our automated platform, we will systematically explore aliovalent substitution in close-packed halides, mapping synthesis accessibility by analyzing polymorph energetics, dopant effects, and heating conditions. This approach enables cost-effective, scalable ionic conductors, advancing solid-state battery technology.