A unique range of properties emerge at the atomically thin limit across the ever-expanding universe of 2D materials, including graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, magnetic layered semiconductors (e.g., CrX3, X = Cl, Br, I; or MPS3 , M = Cr, Fe, Ni), and other layered and ultra-thin materials. These materials can be stacked together to form heterostructures which profoundly modify their electronic and optical properties. By varying the interlayer twist angle, new phenomena can be induced between two layers of identical or different compositions. These phenomena arise from modified interlayer symmetry, Brillouin zone folding, and the detailed structure produced within the moiré superlattice, leading to strongly correlated states, superconductivity, topological band structures, quantum confinement, ferroelectricity, emergent magnetic order, and other novel phenomena derived from engineered Hamiltonians through modified strain, symmetry, and screening. This opens numerous possibilities for basic research and potential applications in 2D quantum materials and devices. However, fabricating heterostructure devices based on layered materials involves many manual processes, making it time-consuming, unpredictable, and prone to variations based on individual skills. There is often substantial variation in properties from device to device – and even within individual devices – due to moiré disorder. Consequently, there is growing interest within the 2D materials community to reduce sources of unintentional variability or heterogeneity, often by automating each step of the fabrication process to minimize human intervention and maximize material quality and throughput.

This symposium aims to bring researchers together who are interested in applying new techniques to overcome these bottlenecks and produce layered materials and heterostructures at a large scale with higher material quality, properties control, speed, and area, among other improvements. This can encompass various approaches, such as large-area thin-film growth, improved bulk crystal synthesis, high-yield or enhanced-quality exfoliation methods, automated flake characterization and cataloguing, automated or large-area assembly of layered heterostructures, high-throughput characterization of defects, and in situ process monitoring during assembly. Additionally, the symposium will cover the use of robotics and machine learning to automate each step of the device fabrication process, including sample preparation and placement in the cleanest possible environment, to accelerate the development of 2D quantum materials and devices. We welcome contributions on the latest developments in 2D materials and heterostructures, including novel and efficient layer isolation/identification, stacking techniques with greater control using new hardware or robotics, applications of AI and machine learning to improve processing, and new routes towards enhanced quality in device fabrication. The goal of this symposium is to exchange ideas and advancements towards the autonomous fabrication of 2D quantum materials-based devices, fostering the development of novel techniques and accelerating progress in the field.

2D materials electrical properties photoconductivity quantum materials