Enabling technology for accelerated discovery of supramolecular materials

Abstract

Organic supramolecular materials, defined by their discrete, modular nature, promise to deliver flexible solutions to pressing challenges, including separations, storage, sensing, and catalysis. The absence of strong metallic or covalent bonding within their solid-state structures enables fine-tuning and post-synthetic processing to tailor properties towards specific applications. However, their production suffers from poor reproducibility, scalability, and sustainability; as a result, translation of these materials from the lab to real-world situations is rare. In this perspective, we discuss how the field stands to benefit from the emergence of ‘enabling technologies’, such as high-throughput screening (HTS), robotics, and flow chemistry. We summarise recent advances and consider the opportunities these technologies present for the accelerated discovery, optimisation, and translation of molecular materials.