title: An integrated instrument control and informatics system for combinatorial materials research.
abstract: The use of high-throughput synthesis and characterization techniques is increasingly prevalent in materials science research. We describe the London University Search Instrument, a research apparatus designed for the high-throughput synthesis and characterization of thick-film sample libraries of ceramic compounds. The instrument is constructed largely from commodity components, which pose particular engineering challenges for achieving the automated operation required for efficient high-throughput experimentation. This paper describes the architecture and implementation of the software system that provides integrated instrument control and data management functions.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Computational Science, Department of Chemistry, University College London, Christopher Ingold Laboratories, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Coveney