Atomic-scale manufacturing is emerging as a transformative interdisciplinary frontier, enabling atomic-level manipulation of matter that until recently remained largely theoretical. As conventional manufacturing approaches approach fundamental resolution and precision limits, the need for atomic and near-atomic additive, subtractive, and equiaxial processes is accelerating driven by performance demands in next-generation functional technologies.

Despite rapid progress, advances remain fragmented across theory, process development, and characterization, and industrial translation has lagged. This fragmentation limits the creation of robust, end-to-end manufacturing workflows. This Research Topic responds to that gap by providing a unified platform to consolidate leading progress and cross-disciplinary insight within a digital manufacturing context.

Rationale

Atomic-scale manufacturing has the potential to reshape fabrication pathways for nanoelectronics, quantum devices, and other high-performance functional systems, yet several bottlenecks persist:

o The absence of a unified framework that integrates atomic/near-atomic additive, subtractive, and equiaxial manufacturing into coherent process chains
o Limited coupling between atomic-scale theories/modeling and high-resolution measurement and characterization, which slows validation and process optimization
o Slow translation of laboratory breakthroughs into repeatable, scalable, and industry-relevant manufacturing strategies

To address these challenges, this Research Topic highlights advances that connect atomic-scale modeling, Manufacturing Paradigm III process strategies, and high-precision metrology with an emphasis on digital methods that enable integration, control, and manufacturability.

Scope and Focus

This Research Topic spotlights cutting-edge advances in atomic-scale manufacturing across the digital manufacturing pipeline, including:
o Fundamental atomic-scale theoretical exploration and modeling that informs manufacturing strategy
o Full-spectrum processing aligned with Manufacturing Paradigm III, including atomic and close-to-atomic additive, subtractive, and equiaxial manufacturing
o High-resolution measurement and characterization approaches that enable validation, feedback, and process control
o Practical translation of atomic-scale manufacturing into functional devices and systems (e.g., nanoelectronics, quantum devices, high-performance catalysts), with attention to reproducibility, scalability, and industrial deployment

By bridging atomic-level precision research with manufacturing workflow design and translation, this Research Topic aims to delineate key innovation frontiers and foster cross-disciplinary dialogue that accelerates the deployment of atomic-scale engineered technologies in real-world production environments.

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Atomic-Scale Manufacturing