The properties of a material are often shaped less by its chemical composition and more by how its molecules are arranged within the atomic lattice or on its surface. Materials scientists harness this principle by positioning individual atoms and molecules on surfaces using high-performance microscopes. However, this process is highly time-consuming, and the resulting nanostructures remain relatively simple.
A research group at TU Graz aims to revolutionize this approach with artificial intelligence. “We want to develop a self-learning AI system that positions individual molecules quickly, specifically and in the right orientation, and all this completely autonomously,” says Oliver Hofmann from the Institute of Solid State Physics, who heads the research group. This advancement could enable the construction of highly complex molecular structures, including nanoscale logic circuits.
The research group, called “Molecule Arrangement through Artificial Intelligence,” has secured €1.19 million ($1.23 million) in funding from the Austrian Science Fund to turn this vision into reality.
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