[News] Rigaku Collaborates on Development of “Digital Laboratory” for Autonomous Materials Synthesis

Tokyo, Japan; Rigaku Corporation, a Group company of Rigaku Holdings Corporation (headquarters: Akishima, Tokyo; CEO: Jun Kawakami; hereinafter “Rigaku”), in collaboration with the University of Tokyo, has contributed to the development of a “Digital Laboratory” — a groundbreaking experimental platform designed for the automatic and autonomous synthesis of advanced materials. This initiative is led by Professor Taro Hitosugi of the University of Tokyo (also Specially Appointed Professor at the Tokyo University of Science).

A press release from the University of Tokyo describes this as "Team develops digital lab for data- and robot-driven materials science".

This system enables the synthesis of thin-film materials with specific crystallinity and physical properties, using automated analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. Rigaku contributed to the project by providing X-ray diffraction equipment, supporting system integration, and offering technical expertise in demonstration experiments, including AI-based diffraction pattern analysis and deposition condition inference via Bayesian optimization.

The results of this joint research were published on 14 May in Digital Discovery, a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), and are gaining attention as a significant breakthrough in materials research.

The system integrates synthesis equipment (sputter deposition) with various analytical instruments, including XRD, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, SEM, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Specifications for the sample holder shape and communication protocols between modules are publicly available.

Building upon this research, Professor Hitosugi has launched the “Digital Laboratory Project” in collaboration with eight organizations, including the Japan Fine Ceramics Association (JFCA), materials, automotive, and analytical equipment manufacturers. These include Mitsui Kinzoku, TDK Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., Denso Corporation / Denso Wave Inc., Rigaku, JEOL Ltd., and Mitsui Knowledge Industry Co., Ltd.

A collaborative laboratory has been established at the University of Tokyo's Hongo Campus to promote industry-academia R&D. The project aims to revolutionize materials discovery by enabling fully automated and autonomous processes, leveraging machine learning and robotics. Particularly, the full automation of ceramic materials research—from synthesis to sintering, characterization, and analysis—is a world-first challenge requiring advanced technological development.

By fostering this innovation environment, the project strives to unleash researchers’ creativity and elevate Japan’s capabilities in materials science. One of the goals is to establish the world’s most advanced autonomous experimental system for ceramic materials.

Outlook

Rigaku will continue to utilize knowledge gained through this project to deliver solutions that enhance autonomy, speed, and precision in materials development. We remain committed to empowering researchers and realizing the next generation of research and development environments. In particular, Rigaku plans to further refine data standardization and analytical automation capabilities, accelerating innovation in ceramic and thin-film materials development.

Publication details

Paper Title: Digital laboratory with modular measurement system and standardised data format

Journal: Digital Discovery

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4DD00326H

About the Rigaku Group

Since its establishment in 1951, the engineering professionals of the Rigaku group have been dedicated to benefiting society with leading-edge technologies, notably including in its core fields of X-ray and thermal analysis. With a market presence in over 90 countries and some 2,000 employees from 9 global operations, Rigaku is a solution partner in industry and research analysis institutes. Our overseas sales ratio has reached approximately 70% while sustaining an exceptionally high market share in Japan. Together with our customers, we continue to develop and grow. As applications expand from semiconductors, electronic materials, batteries, environment, resources, energy, life science to other high-tech fields, Rigaku realizes innovations “To Improve Our World by Powering New Perspectives.”

For details, please visit: https://rigaku-holdings.com/