Autonomous Fabrication of Tailored Defect Structures in 2D Materials using Machine Learning-enabled Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

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Main Authors: Wu, Zijie, Roccapriore, Kevin M., Ghosh, Ayana, Xiao, Kai, Unocic, Raymond R., Jesse, Stephen, Vasudevan, Rama, Boebinger, Matthew G.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Wu, Zijie
Roccapriore, Kevin M.
Ghosh, Ayana
Xiao, Kai
Unocic, Raymond R.
Jesse, Stephen
Vasudevan, Rama
Boebinger, Matthew G.
author_facet Wu, Zijie
Roccapriore, Kevin M.
Ghosh, Ayana
Xiao, Kai
Unocic, Raymond R.
Jesse, Stephen
Vasudevan, Rama
Boebinger, Matthew G.
contents Materials with tailored quantum properties can be engineered from atomic scale assembly techniques, but existing methods often lack the agility and accuracy to precisely and intelligently control the manufacturing process. Here we demonstrate a fully autonomous approach for fabricating atomic-level defects using electron beams in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) that combines advanced machine learning and automated beam control. As a proof of concept, we achieved controlled fabrication of MoS-nanowire (MoS-NW) edge structures by iterative and targeted exposure of $MoS_2$ monolayer to a focused electron beam to selectively eject sulfur atoms, utilizing high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) imaging for feedback-controlled monitoring structural evolution of defects. A machine learning framework combining a random forest model and convolutional neural networks (CNN) was developed to decode the HAADF image and accurately identify atomic positions and species. This atomic-level information was then integrated into an autonomous decision-making platform, which applied predefined fabrication strategies to instruct beam control about atomic sites to be ejected. The selected sites were subsequently exposed to localized electron beam using an FPGA-controlled scan routine with precise control over beam positioning and duration. While the MoS-NW edge structures produced exhibit promising mechanical and electronic properties, the proposed autonomous fabrication framework is material-agnostic and can be extended to other 2D materials for the creation of diverse defect structures and heterostructures beyond $MoS_2$.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_01194
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Autonomous Fabrication of Tailored Defect Structures in 2D Materials using Machine Learning-enabled Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy
Wu, Zijie
Roccapriore, Kevin M.
Ghosh, Ayana
Xiao, Kai
Unocic, Raymond R.
Jesse, Stephen
Vasudevan, Rama
Boebinger, Matthew G.
Materials Science
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials with tailored quantum properties can be engineered from atomic scale assembly techniques, but existing methods often lack the agility and accuracy to precisely and intelligently control the manufacturing process. Here we demonstrate a fully autonomous approach for fabricating atomic-level defects using electron beams in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) that combines advanced machine learning and automated beam control. As a proof of concept, we achieved controlled fabrication of MoS-nanowire (MoS-NW) edge structures by iterative and targeted exposure of $MoS_2$ monolayer to a focused electron beam to selectively eject sulfur atoms, utilizing high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) imaging for feedback-controlled monitoring structural evolution of defects. A machine learning framework combining a random forest model and convolutional neural networks (CNN) was developed to decode the HAADF image and accurately identify atomic positions and species. This atomic-level information was then integrated into an autonomous decision-making platform, which applied predefined fabrication strategies to instruct beam control about atomic sites to be ejected. The selected sites were subsequently exposed to localized electron beam using an FPGA-controlled scan routine with precise control over beam positioning and duration. While the MoS-NW edge structures produced exhibit promising mechanical and electronic properties, the proposed autonomous fabrication framework is material-agnostic and can be extended to other 2D materials for the creation of diverse defect structures and heterostructures beyond $MoS_2$.
title Autonomous Fabrication of Tailored Defect Structures in 2D Materials using Machine Learning-enabled Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy
topic Materials Science
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.01194