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Before the IEEE NMDC 2023 Conference (23-25 Oct. 2023), the NTC focus forum on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Nanotechnology was held in Mercurio Hall in Ariston Hotel, Paestum, on 21-22 Oct. 2023. The forum is proposed and Chaired by Prof. Dr. Xiaoying Zhuang from Leibniz University Hannover, Germany, with Prof. Xiaoning Jiang from NC State representing NTC as the VP TA. Dr. Teresa Cheng from Leibniz University Hannover and Dr. Quanzhou Yao from South China University of Science and Technology helped with the organization. There were totally 12 participants coming from Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and the US including Mr. Tylor Jaynes from the NTC Standards Committee who participated as an additional observer. The forum invited experts with various background including AI algorithm, metamaterials, nanomechanics experiments, nano tribology, nanomaterials design, nanomaterials manufacturing, packaging, nano energy harvesters, photodetectors, 2D materials etc in order to bring chemistry of new ideas and explore new ideas of AI in nanotechnology. Enhancing our interactive session, one of our attendees contributed to the discussions via an online connection. A series of twelve insightful presentations showcased groundbreaking developments in AI as applied to the field of nanotechnology. Highlights of the talks included:
• AI enhanced energy harvester design and applications;
• AI assisted experiment on mechanical characterization, such as piezoelectric thin film and high entropy alloys;
• AI assisted inverse design of metamaterials
• AI assisted 2D materials characterization;
• AI assisted experimental results, such as piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) for accelerated potential valley of stick-slip behaviour in tribology, and for high quality PFM images;
• AI based nano materials design and exploration;
The forum also discussed the issues regarding the AI applications in nanotechnology, including the demand of a large number of data and the physics issues that gives “sense” to the results or output from AI. Research related to “AI and Nanotechnology” showed interesting potential and a pre-forum study made by Prof. Zhuang showed that AI is among the most active and rising directions in nano materials and nano technology around the world where many interesting examples have revealed the perspectives. Dr. Jakob Schwiedrzik from EMPA at Switzerland presented extreme naonmechanics testing with self-developed instruments at EMPA of extremely high strain rate testing as well as cryogenic and high temperature. He also showed AI based data analysis of large datasets generated by high throughput multimodal materials characterization for various applications. Prof. Jim Morris from Portland State University gave an overview talk of NTC history and future perspective and afterwards he presented issues and uncertainties in electric conduction of discontinuous metal nanoparticle in thin film. Prof. Jianying He presented additively manufactured high entropy alloys where AI can be used to accelerate and optimize the manufacturing parameters for high strength alloy. Prof. Yabin Jin from Tongji University showed the AI enhanced inverse design of metamaterials and topological insulating structures where AI can accelerate novel functions and features. Prof. Timon Rabczuk from Bauhaus University Weimar presented AI mathematical model, theory and algorithms for scientific computing and materials design. He also showed the insight of Dr. Binh Huy Nguyen from Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (imec), Belgium presented AI assisted MEMS design and characterization. Prof. Di Bartolomeo presented interesting findings of photoconductivity, negative photoconductivity and pressure hysteresis of several 2D materials including MoS2 and ReS2 etc. Prof. Xiaoying Zhuang presented the AI based 2D materials exploration and multiscale materials characterization and homogenization using deep learning. Dr. Quanzhou Yao from South China University of Science and Technology presented AI enhanced solution of for the statistical study of stick-slip events in nano triboelectricity. Dr. Qiong Liu demonstrated recent results on PFM and Ramen spectrum characterization of flexoelectricity of 2D materials. Dr. Teresa Cheng summarize the state of the art of nano energy harvesters and future perspective about how to use AI to develop more efficient energy harvester.
During the forum, several discussion sessions were carried out and it was agreed that it is important to disseminate and demonstrate successful showcases to NTC and IEEE community where AI can be used to enhance current research methods. It was proposed that it is necessary to organize and provide training courses or lectures that can deliver basic mathematical models and knowledge of using AI. Issues of data generation raised a lot of discussions and questions regarding the quality and quantitates of the data. A key step is of course to see the problem for each researcher that can be improved or solved by AI. Future plans under consideration are the foundation of new technical committee within NTC in the area of “AI and Nanotechnology”, special sessions in IEEE Nano 2024 in Spain and the further communications with other IEEE societies such as Computer Science. A special issue of NTC journals or the magazine is under discussion and envisioned to be organized.
