PhasIR: An Instrumentation and Analysis Software for High-throughput Phase Transition Temperature Measurements

Abstract

We have designed an open-source and high-throughput thermal analysis system for fast and accurate estimation of phase transition temperatures for up to 96 samples analyzed simultaneously. The results are comparable to current state of the art systems such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which is costly and time-consuming. The PhasIR hardware system utilizes an infrared camera to optically record thermal processes that result from the melting/freezing and/or evaporation of samples, while the accompanying open-source software package allows for subsequent batch analysis and processing to extract phase transition temperatures. The PhasIR system showed good agreement with DSC results for both pure substances and mixtures, such as deep eutectic solvents (DES). The all-in-one hardware and software system can be easily replicated and built using relatively inexpensive components at a total estimated cost of $1,080 USD. Implementation of the PhasIR system will allow for increased throughput in material thermal characterization and broader investigation of material design spaces. METADATA OVERVIEWMain design files: https://github.com/pozzo-research-group/phasIR Target group: Scientists requiring high-throughput thermal analysis of organic samples (e.g. pharmaceuticals, polymers, food ingredients, greases, solvents). Skills required: CNC machining, 3D printing, basic electronics and programming.

High-throughput and data driven strategies for the design of deep-eutectic solvent electrolytes

“…The melting point of the synthesized the choline chloride-based samples was characterized using the PhasIR system, which is thoroughly described in a recent publication. 34 An example plot can be seen in Fig. 7, right.…”

“…The melting point of the samples was measured using a recently developed high-throughput and open-source thermal analysis system called PhasIR. 34 This method uses IR bolometry to analyzed phase transitions in liquids in a parallel analysis platform. The system consists of a Raspberry Pi microcomputer, a FLIR LEPTON 3.5 IR camera, and aluminum multi-well plates as the basic elements, Fig.…”

Review of low-cost self-driving laboratories in chemistry and materials science: the “frugal twin” concept

“…For example, an automated differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) instrument can be purchased for ∼50 000 USD. 132 However, Rodriguez et al 133 automate DSC with a low-cost system of 1080 USD, which can run samples in 15 minutes, with up to 96 samples at a time. 133 A cost/benefit analysis of the different design approaches and associated opportunity costs remains necessary to automate any solution.…”

High-Throughput and Data Driven Strategies for the Design of Deep-Eutectic Solvent Electrolytes

“…The melting point of the samples was measured using a recently developed high-throughput and open-source thermal analysis system called PhasIR. [30] This method uses IR bolometry to analyzed phase transitions in liquids in a parallel analysis platform. The system consists of a Raspberry Pi microcomputer, a FLIR LEPTON 3.5 IR camera, and aluminum multi-well plates as the basic elements, Figure S5.…”

“…The melting point of the synthesized the choline chloridebased samples was characterized using the PhasIR system, which is thoroughly described in a recent publication. [30] An example plot can be seen in Figure 7, right. Here, the temperatures of samples and the aluminum plate are encoded in the pixel value composing the frames collected by the Lepton IR camera.…”