Near-Atomic-Scale Perspectives on Material Synthesis

The addition of near-atomic-scale material synthesis represents a major advancement in materials science to engineer matter down to the atomic level. This ability is vital to designing new materials with specifically engineered properties for quantum computing, nanoelectronics, and catalysis applications. Near-atomic-scale synthesis involves the ability to build materials using individual atoms/molecules, giving unparalleled control over the resulting material properties. Some key milestones in the historical evolution of atomic-scale material synthesis which paved the path for contemporary advancements. Starting with the terminology of “nanotechnology” coined by Norio Taniguchi in 1974, continuing with the demonstration of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) for atomic manipulation by IBM in 1990 and the pioneering atomic layer deposition (ALD) in 2018 by Tuomo Suntola, among others, these milestones have collectively forged the field. Developments in atomic-scale manufacturing protocols, such as ALD, STM, atomic force microscopy (AFM), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and feature-oriented scanning (FOS) methodology, have contributed significantly to the atomic-scale fabrication and characterization of m. Ultra-broadband hotspots allow researchers to manipulate matter on the scale of a few atoms, enabling next-generation materials with unprecedented performance. As you move forward through this chapter, you will have an overview of how near-atomic-scale synthesis has developed historically until today as industrialization mainstreams innovative advanced manufacturing. With the advancement of technology and an increased capability of engineering new and exciting materials at an atomic level, the potentialities are limitless and will help advance a number of fields, proving that atomic-scale synthesis is and will continue to play a crucial role in modern science