Artificial intelligence Xccleration Lab (AiXL)

Who We Are

We are a team of scientists and engineers based at ISCE2 on Jurong Island, united by a shared goal to transform how chemistry is done in the digital era. At Artificial intelligence Xccleration Lab (AiXL), we build semi-automated, data-driven research processes that accelerate discovery and scale innovation. By digitalising experimentation and embracing intelligent automation, we bridge traditional chemistry with cutting-edge artificial intelligence, redefining how research is designed, executed, and optimised for the 21st century.

What We Do

AiXL is a first-of-its-kind experimental platform in Singapore, enabling high-throughput, automated experimentation with real-time analytics for complex, multiphasic reactions. The accelerator lab generates high-quality, artificial intelligence (AI)-ready data to accelerate reaction optimisation, support design-of-experiments, and drive the development of explainable AI - effectively linking laboratory discovery with industrial application. What sets AiXL apart from global high-throughput labs is our strong emphasis on kinetic experimentation and industrial translation, filling a critical capability gap within Southeast Asia’s research and development ecosystem.

 

Our mission is to accelerate laboratory research and scale innovation through data-driven science. We are building a data-centric research ecosystem powered by high-throughput experimentation (HTE), in-situ reaction monitoring, and real-time analytics. By capturing and analysing large volumes of experimental data, we uncover hidden trends, optimise reaction kinetics, and enhance reproducibility. Through the integration of automation, fast analytics, and AI model development, AiXL brings together hard science and artificial intelligence to transform how experiments are designed, executed, and scaled - driving faster discovery and innovation.

The 5P Approach - Powering Agile and Insightful Chemistry Innovation

Equipment

Chemical workstation

Pressure builds, Performance holds.

The chemical workstation is a fully automated parallel reactor platform designed for advanced high-pressure chemistry and process optimisation. It is divided into two main sections: a parallel synthesis zone and a high-pressure zone.

The parallel synthesis zone supports six independently heated positions and one cooling position for Society for Biomolecular Screening (SBS) plates, each equipped with stirring and vortexing functions. It also includes six heated, spreadable piercing needles for automated sampling and reagent addition. This setup enables rapid formulation screening and efficient workflow optimisation.

Once optimal conditions are identified, reactions can be scaled up to 20 mL using optimisation sampling reactors (OSRs). These reactors can run 16 experiments simultaneously and allow sampling even under high-pressure conditions. They are also equipped with real-time gas uptake monitoring.

With its combination of pressure stability, chemical durability, and thermal flexibility, the system - Junior - is well suited for catalyst screening, hydrogenation studies, polymerisation, and gas-uptake kinetics under realistic process conditions.

Parallel synthesis zone for 6 SBS plates

Septum piercing heated needles

Deck of Junior

OSR sampling

  • 2 experiment zones (Pressure zone and Parallel Synthesis zone)
  • Pressure zone
    • 16 Optimisation sampling reactors (OSR)
    • Independent temperature control
    • Independent pressure control
    • Overhead stirring speed
    • Gas uptake measurement
    • Sampling at pressure without affecting pressure
  • Parallel Synthesis zone
    •  6 SBS plates
    • 3 Vortex positions with independent stirring and heating
    • 3 magnetic stirring position with independent heating with fixed-stirring and 1 position can also provide cooling
    • 6 heated piercing needles
    • Dursan coated OSR needle

Powder dispenser

Automating precision, accelerating discovery

The powder dispenser is a fully automated, high-precision dosing platform equipped with a six-axis robotic arm. It can accurately dispense up to 32 different powder substances into vials ranging from 1 mL to 8 mL, with precision up to six decimal places. The system holds up to 6 SBS plates, allowing a total capacity of 576 samples in a single run.

It features RFID-based solid tracking and seamless compatibility with Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs). At AiXL, the system is housed inside a purge box with an inert gas environment, making it ideal for handling toxic or air-sensitive compounds safely and reliably.

Automated Dosing - Solid dispenser - Trajan Chronect

Robot moving vials from balance

Chronect powder dispenser

Robot picking dosing head

Robot moving vials from SBS plates

  • 6 SBS plates
  • > 0.8mg measurement
  • Measure up to 576 samples
  • 1mL, 2mL, 4mL, 8mL vials
  • 32 different solids
  • 3 hours 4 minutes 96 x 1mg, 82% within ± 10%
  • 1 hour 32 minutes 48 x 10mg 100% within ± 10%

Ultrafast analytics

Sample to data in 12 seconds

In conventional high-throughput experimentation, analysis is often the rate-limiting step, with traditional systems requiring up to 10 minutes per sample. The ultrafast analytics system eliminates this bottleneck through direct-injection mass spectrometry with rapid solid-phase extraction, delivering sample-to-signal in just 12 seconds. This enables continuous, real-time reaction monitoring and kinetic profiling without chromatographic delays.

Designed for scale, the system supports 96- and 384-well formats, processing up to 24,576 samples per run, and features integrated sample storage from 4 °C to room temperature with capacity for up to 64 SBS plates. With minimal sample volume requirements and high analytical precision, ultrafast analytics converts high-throughput experimentation into high-throughput insight, transforming analysis from a barrier into a powerful accelerator for data generation, decision-making, and autonomous chemistry.

  • Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Detector
  • 2-12s from sample to data
  • 64 SBS plates (96 or 384-well)
  • 4°C – room temperature sample holder maintains integrity for temperature-sensitive samples.
  • Solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges
  • Enables unattended, high-throughput analysis with seamless sample handling and processing with built-in robotic system for walk-away capability

Automated reaction scale-up platform

From bench (mg) to pilot (kg) - smart, data-rich scale-up

Traditional scale-up often faces challenges in maintaining consistency, control, and insight between lab and production scales. The Automated reaction scale-up platform redefines this process by combining automated synthesis, in-situ analytics, and continuous data acquisition to create a seamless, scalable, and intelligent experimentation environment.

Each reaction is monitored in real time using in-situ spectroscopy (Real-time Raman, Infrared, Ultraviolet–Visible spectroscopy), providing direct molecular insight into reaction progress and species evolution. Integrated calorimetry measures heat flow for kinetic and thermodynamic profiling, enable automated sampling of reaction aliquots without interrupting the reaction - preserving data integrity and reproducibility.

Together, these tools enable researchers to capture complete reaction fingerprints, optimize conditions dynamically, and bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and

pilot-scale production. When paired with AiXL’s data infrastructure, the system forms a foundation for autonomous, AI-driven reaction optimization and process design.

  • EasyMax and OptiMax automated synthesis platforms
  • Integrated Raman, IR, and calorimetry for real-time insights
  • EasySampler for automated in-situ sampling
  • 50 mL – 1 L scalable reactor volume
  • ±0.1 °C temperature control precision
  • Automated dosing and full data logging
  • 50 mL – 1 L reactors
  • Calorimetry measurement
  • Real-time Raman, Infrared, Ultraviolet–Visible spectroscopy
  • Infrared
  • Automated sampling
  • Automated dosing and full data logging
  • Inline Technology for Particle Size Characterization based on video microscope at size range from 0.5 µm - 2mm

Contact Us

 

AiXL is situated at A*STAR's Institute for Sustainability for Energy Chemicals and Environment (ISCE2) 1 Pesek Road, Jurong Island.

If you have any enquiries on AiXL or would like to explore collaborations and partnership opportunities, you may reach us at: you may reach us here.

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