Abstract
Throughout the years, advancements in technology have greatly improved the efficiency and ease of our daily tasks through the development of machinery and devices that focus on automation. In this study, we introduce SynthMATE, an automated DIY (do-it-yourself) platform specifically designed for chemical synthesis, focusing on synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), azo dye reactions, and C-C cross-coupling reactions. The AgNPs were synthesized using the reduction method, and TEM analysis confirmed the production of nanoparticles with various shapes. These synthesized AgNPs were then tested for their catalytic activity in reducing 4-nitrophenol using sodium borohydride. The results showed a complete conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol as observed from the disappearance of its peak at 400 nm and the appearance of a new peak around the 300 nm region in UV analysis.
To highlight the platform’s versatility, the platform was also able to conduct azo dye reactions successfully. For the reactions, a camera was integrated into the platform to automatically capture images of the final products (indicated by the color that the reaction was complete). A total of 63 images were captured. Furthermore, the platform could perform coupling reactions, namely, Heck, and Suzuki-Miyauri reactions.
The main findings demonstrated that the platform significantly enhances efficiency and productivity. Compared to conventional manual techniques, SynthMATE was able to synthesize required products in less time. Overall, this study showcases the potential of SynthMATE for chemical synthesis. The anticipation is that this approach will contribute to advancements in chemistry and inspire further development of affordable and accessible experimental setups for scientific exploration.