A flexible database for combinatorial and high-throughput materials science

A new project-oriented database concept for high-throughput materials research and development is presented. The relational database is built on the common software MS-Access. Its advantages are high versatility and compatibility as well as simple data import and export. Due to its modular conception, it is easily adapted and modified to various projects in combinatorial materials research. With the aid of standardized ASCII tables for data exchange, it was not only possible to share results between different research groups but also to use their individual expertise for a collective evaluation based on an identical data stock. The database application for visualization and data mining is demonstrated with examples from a search for new solid state sensor materials.