An Automated Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope Guided by Sparse Data Analytics

Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to reshape scientific inquiry and enable breakthrough discoveries in areas such as energy storage, quantum computing, and biomedicine. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), a cornerstone of the dynamic study of chemical and materials systems, stands to benefit greatly from AI-driven automation. However, present barriers to low-level instrument control, as well as generalizable and interpretable feature detection, make truly automated microscopy impractical, particularly in the case of high-speed <i>in situ</i> studies. Here, we discuss the design of a closed-loop instrument control platform guided by emerging sparse data analytics. We demonstrate how a centralized controller, informed by machine learning combining limited <i>a priori</i> knowledge and task-based discrimination, can drive on-the-fly experimental decision-making. This platform unlocks practical, automated analysis of a variety of material features, enabling new high-throughput and statistical studies.