Robotic Catalysis: A High-Throughput Method for Miniature Screening of Mesoporous Metal Oxides

We have developed a high-throughput system to synthesise and explore up to 96 heterogeneous catalysts at the same time. The system was developed as a proof of concept, using a standard glass plate and a 3D printed 96-well plate. Nano-droplets of catalyst formulations were transferred to the glass plate using an acoustic liquid handler and upon heat treatments, the miniature mesoporous metal oxide (MMO) catalysts were formed. The 3D printed bottomless 96-well plate was fixed to the glass plate, to give 96 individual wells, each containing a catalyst. Four catalyst plates were prepared (Co3O4-, Au/Co3O4-, Pd/Co3O4- and Co/Mn-MMO) to be screened for their activity in the oxidation of morin, as a model reaction. The observed reaction rates (k(obs)) for each catalyst were calculated to identify the most active catalyst. The general method described herein requires microscopic amounts of catalysts with derivates of the catalyst's composition.