Material scientists often search for new materials with engineered properties. If, for example, you have a set of doped semiconducting materials with different doping levels, and you aim for maximal conductivity, the choice is straighforward -- try each of them, select the one which maximizes the conductivity. However, before you start that, you have to come up with possible base material, possible doping, possible coating, material production technique etc. -- a vast design parameter space to explore.
Is there a reference that summarizes and lists possible search strategies? Is there a rational way to search for novel materials?
I am aware of the general principles of design of experiments, but if there are any principles that are specific to Material Science, please refer to them.