The alchemy of AI in material science
By Valentyn Volkov
Draw a mental picture of a medieval alchemist who had spent their entire life trying to mix substances to obtain, say, the philosopher's stone. Since then, the goals and technology have changed, but creating new materials in search of unique properties is still an important task of science. Instead of the trial-and-error method that alchemists had to use, modern material scientists utilize artificial intelligence to assist them in their endeavors. And, of course, the properties they seek are also different from what they used to be, yet sometimes they seem magical.
Various disciplines study their own substances: biotechnology, for example, focuses on creating customized molecules that are used for treatment. Meanwhile, in the field of physics, many scientists are focusing on two-dimensional materials, which consist of only one layer of atoms and generally have no thickness. We firmly believe that these novel 2D materials will help create the next generation of computing, and our team is dedicated to researching them.
In my latest article for TechTalks, I will discuss how AI works in materials science and how it helps in developing devices of the future.
Valentyn S. Volkov, PhD, is the co-founder and Scientific Partner at XPANCEO and an internationally renowned expert in the field of nanophotonics and advanced materials, with 20 years of experience at leading universities and research centers.