journal article·2026-06-30Open access

Autonomous High‐Throughput Characterization of Liquid‐Liquid Phase Behavior

Tarek Eid, Maryam Ebrahimiazar, Mohammad Zargartalebi, David Sinton

Abstract

ABSTRACT Self‐driving labs and data‐driven formulation have outpaced the characterization of liquid‐liquid miscibility and phase behavior, despite the role of such characterization in determining the stability and efficacy of complex formulations across diverse applications. Traditional characterization methods rely on labor‐intensive visual inspection or single‐proxy measurements that lack chemical generality, limit throughput, and provide only partial insight into phase behavior. Here, we report an automated platform that enables continuous, high‐throughput screening of liquid‐liquid phase behavior across diverse fluid chemistries. The device integrates an asymmetric capacitance sensor that is sensitive to the emergence and motion of phase boundaries, along with multi‐angle turbidimetry that quantifies cloudiness and emulsion stability, in a single flow‐through chamber. We demonstrate the classification of chemically diverse binary mixtures, resolution of real‐time phase separation kinetics, and identification of partial miscibility across compositions and temperatures. For multicomponent systems, we employ Gaussian‐process‐based active learning to autonomously map ternary phase diagrams in ∼2 h, together with a nonlinear programming framework that extracts tie lines in ∼5 min per line. By unifying miscibility classification, kinetic characterization, and thermodynamic mapping in a single automated workflow, the platform enables comprehensive phase behavior screening at the scale and throughput required for autonomous formulation discovery.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Machine Learning in Materials Science · Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation · Block Copolymer Self-Assembly

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada

Funding

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada · Canada First Research Excellence Fund · Canada Research Chairs

References (51)

Show source-provided references
1. 10.1002/aic.1245810.1002/aic.12458 ↗
2. 10.1016/j.cocis.2021.10153610.1016/j.cocis.2021.101536 ↗
3. 10.1002/advs.20190335910.1002/advs.201903359 ↗
4. 10.1038/s41467‐023‐41054‐710.1038/s41467‐023‐41054‐7 ↗
5. 10.1002/adfm.20242356610.1002/adfm.202423566 ↗
6. 10.1002/admi.20180079110.1002/admi.201800791 ↗
7. 10.1002/adma.20242039910.1002/adma.202420399 ↗
8. 10.1002/advs.20180057610.1002/advs.201800576 ↗
9. 10.1016/j.cis.2020.10234410.1016/j.cis.2020.102344 ↗
10. 10.1016/j.rser.2023.11385410.1016/j.rser.2023.113854 ↗
11. 10.1038/s44160‐022‐00231‐010.1038/s44160‐022‐00231‐0 ↗
12. 10.1002/advs.20190195710.1002/advs.201901957 ↗
13. 10.1016/j.matt.2025.10220510.1016/j.matt.2025.102205 ↗
14. 10.1063/1.55605210.1063/1.556052 ↗
15. 10.1063/1.236670710.1063/1.2366707 ↗
16. 10.1063/1.283802210.1063/1.2838022 ↗
17. 10.1063/1.324385310.1063/1.3243853 ↗
18. Poole C. F. · 2020 · 1
19. 10.1016/S0015‐1882(97)83117‐510.1016/S0015‐1882(97)83117‐5 ↗
20. 10.1351/pac19865812155310.1351/pac198658121553 ↗
21. 10.1016/j.foodres.2016.07.01910.1016/j.foodres.2016.07.019 ↗
22. 10.1021/acs.oprd.1c0034310.1021/acs.oprd.1c00343 ↗
23. 10.1002/smll.20220451210.1002/smll.202204512 ↗
24. 10.1016/j.device.2024.10040410.1016/j.device.2024.100404 ↗
25. 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c0616610.1021/acssuschemeng.4c06166 ↗
26. 10.1002/adma.20170611110.1002/adma.201706111 ↗
27. 10.1021/acs.oprd.5c0008310.1021/acs.oprd.5c00083 ↗
28. 10.1021/acs.jced.9b0063610.1021/acs.jced.9b00636 ↗
29. 10.1016/j.fluid.2022.11371810.1016/j.fluid.2022.113718 ↗
30. 10.1016/j.cherd.2022.06.02310.1016/j.cherd.2022.06.023 ↗
31. 10.1126/sciadv.abe727510.1126/sciadv.abe7275 ↗
32. 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c0058110.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00581 ↗
33. 10.1021/acs.iecr.4c0079610.1021/acs.iecr.4c00796 ↗
34. 10.1039/D5DD00259A10.1039/D5DD00259A ↗
35. 10.1021/acs.accounts.2c0022010.1021/acs.accounts.2c00220 ↗
36. 10.1016/j.cej.2021.12930710.1016/j.cej.2021.129307 ↗
37. 10.1016/j.matt.2024.06.00310.1016/j.matt.2024.06.003 ↗
38. COMSOL Multiphysics www.comsol.com(2025).
39. 10.3390/s2306307310.3390/s23063073 ↗
40. 10.1016/j.bios.2011.06.05010.1016/j.bios.2011.06.050 ↗
41. ISO · 2019
42. 10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.10562410.1016/j.jwpe.2024.105624 ↗
43. M. J.Sadar Turbidity Science Hach Company Technical Information Series Booklet No. 11 1998 printed in U.S.A.
44. Anderson C. W. · 2005
45. “StratosTM Static Tube Mixer ” Koflo Corporation (n.d.) https://www.koflo.com/static‐mixers/stock‐static‐mixers/stratos‐tube‐static‐mixers/.
46. “Hei‐PLATE Mix ‘n’ Heat Core+ (135 mm) Technical Datasheet ” Heidolph North America LLC (n.d.) https://heidolph.com/america/en/hei‐plate‐mix‐n‐heat‐core‐135‐mm~p352.
47. Water Quality and Health: Review of Turbidity: Information for Regulators and Water Suppliers(World Health Organization 2017).
48. Sadek P. C. · 2002 · 26
49. Huber M. L. · 2024
50. 10.1021/je00036a01510.1021/je00036a015 ↗
51. 10.1016/0021‐9614(88)90083‐310.1016/0021‐9614(88)90083‐3 ↗