Atomic Precision Manufacturing (APM) is a form of nanoscale manufacturing that allows the precise placement and manipulation of atoms to create materials or devices at the atomic level.
Traditional manufacturing methods cannot achieve the same level of precision at the atomic scale required for advanced semiconductor devices and nanotechnology applications.
APM uses scanning tunneling microscopes (STMs) as additive deposition heads. These STMs can move with sub-atomic precision, allowing for the controlled placement of individual atoms on a surface to build structures atom by atom.
APM is currently in the lab research stage, with no commercialized processes yet. It requires highly specialized equipment such as STMs and a cleanroom environment to operate.
The process involves using an STM to move atoms or molecules onto a surface layer by layer, creating precise structures at the atomic scale.
Field units draw low hundreds of watts; fabrication is energy-intensive due to vacuum baking, which requires significant power consumption.
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