Heron: Visualizing and Controlling Chemical Reaction Explorations and Networks

TL;DR

Heron is an interactive graphical interface designed to facilitate human interaction with complex quantum chemical data and reaction networks, integrating automation, advanced modeling, and user-friendly controls for chemical exploration.

Contribution

The paper introduces Heron, a novel GUI that combines interactive exploration, automation, and advanced quantum chemical calculations for chemical reaction analysis.

Findings

Enables interactive and automated exploration of chemical reactions.

Integrates advanced quantum calculations with user-friendly controls.

Facilitates analysis of large chemical reaction networks.

Abstract

Automated and high-throughput quantum chemical investigations into chemical processes have become feasible in great detail and broad scope. This results in an increase in complexity of the tasks and in the amount of generated data. An efficient and intuitive way for an operator to interact with these data and to steer virtual experiments is required. Here, we introduce Heron, a graphical user interface that allows for advanced human-machine interactions with quantum chemical exploration campaigns into molecular structure and reactivity. Heron offers access to interactive and automated explorations of chemical reactions with standard electronic structure modules, haptic force feedback, microkinetic modeling, and refinement of data by automated correlated calculations including black-box complete active space calculations. It is tailored to the exploration and analysis of vast chemical reaction networks. We show how interoperable modules enable advanced workflows and pave the way for routine low-entrance-barrier access to advanced modeling techniques.