Atomic and Near-atomic Scale Additive Manufacturing Processes: Progress, Challenges, and Circular Economy

As manufacturing technology continues to evolve toward unprecedented precision, atomic and near-atomic scale additive manufacturing (ACSM) emerges as the frontier of the next industrial revolution. This state-of-the-art approach seeks to manipulate materials at the atomic or near-atomic level, enabling the creation of next-generation products with accuracy once thought impossible. Building upon centuries of manufacturing evolution—from craft-based methods achieving millimetre precision to precision-controlled systems at the micro- and nanoscale—ACSM represents Manufacturing III, the era of atomic-scale control. Drawing inspiration from the capabilities of atomic force microscopy, current developments offer promising pathways toward machining and material deposition at the atomic level. This book provides a comprehensive overview of ACSM, exploring its historical foundations, current advancements, techniques, applications, and challenges, with a special focus on its role within additive manufacturing. Combining insights from materials science, nanotechnology, and advanced manufacturing, it presents a vision for the future of fabrication, where atomic precision redefines the boundaries of possibility.