Autonomous Molecular Design

The development of high-performance lubricant formulations remains a critical research activity in the pursuit of improved energy efficiency in the automotive sector. At the same time, formulations must be developed to facilitate the next generation of electric vehicles. The fluids used in these applications are complicated mixtures, consisting of blends of base fluids and additives designed to perform specific roles. Until now, lubricant development has been mostly evolutionary, with new components added to existing formulations to see whether they improve overall performance. Such top-down methods are slow and costly, meaning that novel techniques are required to keep pace with the rate of technological advancement.