Atomic manufacturing stands at the frontier of nanoscience and nanotechnology, and two-dimensional (2D) materials are an ideal system for its realization due to their atomically flat structures, high tunability, van der Waals assembly compatibility, and layer-by-layer growth mode. However, an insufficient understanding of atomic-scale nucleation and growth mechanisms remains a bottleneck for 2D crystal atomic manufacturing. In situ atomic-scale characterization techniques, integrating atomic-scale imaging and real-time spectroscopy, could overcome the limitations of traditional ex situ characterization by enabling the dynamic visualization of structural evolution and the synchronous tracing of chemical state changes. Taking in situ transmission electron microscopy studies on molybdenum disulfide growth as a paradigm, this perspective highlights that in situ atomic-scale characterization techniques reshape our understanding of 2D crystal nucleation and growth, bridging the gap between atomic-scale structural evolution and macroscopic fabrication. As a strategic fulcrum, these techniques could drive a transformation from experience-driven to mechanism-driven 2D crystal growth, laying the foundation for the scalable production of tailored 2D materials. Ultimately, they will accelerate the realization of Feynman’s vision of atomic manufacturing and fuel innovations in high-end manufacturing, information technology, new energy, and carbon neutrality–related fields.
Huiming Cheng (Wed,) studied this question.