Machine Learning in Nanoscience: Big Data at Small Scales

Recent advances in machine learning (ML) offer new tools to extract new insights from large data sets and to acquire small data sets more effectively. Researchers in nanoscience are experimenting with these tools to tackle challenges in many fields. In addition to ML's advancement of nanoscience, nanoscience provides the foundation for neuromorphic computing hardware to expand the implementation of ML algorithms. In this Mini Review, we highlight some recent efforts to connect the ML and nanoscience communities by focusing on three types of interaction: (1) using ML to analyze and extract new insights from large nanoscience data sets, (2) applying ML to accelerate material discovery, including the use of active learning to guide experimental design, and (3) the nanoscience of memristive devices to realize hardware tailored for ML. We conclude with a discussion of challenges and opportunities for future interactions between nanoscience and ML researchers.