A landmark article jointly signed by five top Chinese academicians, including Zhu Shining and Yang Huayong, has recently attracted significant attention in China's science and technology and industrial sectors. The article systematically calls for China to treat "atomic-level manufacturing" as a national strategy, strengthening top-level design and innovation leadership, aiming to open up a brand-new future industry track. This is not only seen as a collective assessment of cutting-edge technological directions but also interpreted as a strategic declaration by China to fundamentally reshape its manufacturing foundation and seize the initiative in future industries amid the global new round of scientific and technological revolution and increasingly fierce international competition.
The core argument of the article is striking: atomic-level manufacturing is not a linear extension of existing manufacturing technologies, but a disruptive, physics-limit-pushing manufacturing paradigm. It has the potential to help China escape the passive situation of "copying and following" in key core technologies, take an alternative path, break through the restrictions imposed by the West on high-end manufacturing equipment and processes, and become the core "root technology" and crucial turning point for China's transition from a manufacturing giant to a manufacturing power.
Decoding "Ultimate Manufacturing": What Does Atomic-Level Precision Mean?
For the public, "atomic-level manufacturing" is a cutting-edge, even slightly sci-fi concept. But essentially, its core idea is to deepen humanity's ability to transform the material world from macroscopic and microscopic levels to the most basic unit of matter—atoms. If traditional precision manufacturing is like carving bricks with extremely fine tools, then the goal of atomic-level manufacturing is to precisely pick up, place, and remove individual atoms or clusters of atoms, thus creating unprecedented new materials and devices out of nowhere.
This manufacturing paradigm will advance the precision from the current nanoscale (one billionth of a meter) to the sub-nanometer atomic scale. To understand the significance of this leap, consider the crown jewel of modern technology—the semiconductor chip. The feature size of the transistors inside the most advanced chips has been reduced to just a few nanometers, which is equivalent to the width of dozens of silicon atoms. To continue following Moore's Law and push chip performance to new heights, it is necessary to process and control at the atomic level.
Atomic-level manufacturing is not a single technology but a collection of techniques such as atomic layer deposition (ALD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and scanning probe microscopy (SPM). Its application potential is revolutionary:
In the field of materials, by perfectly arranging atoms, we can create new substances that approach theoretical limits in performance. For example, the article mentions that by building materials at the atomic level, we can achieve optical films that reduce the weight of laser crystals by a hundred times, or design efficient catalysts at the atomic level, as well as sealing materials that can withstand temperatures of 2000°C. This will have a profound impact on fields such as aerospace, energy, and chemical engineering.
In the field of components, the value of its application has already begun to emerge. For instance, the manufacture of hemispherical resonant gyroscopes used in high-end navigation, the optical system of next-generation EUV lithography machines, and ultra-smooth bearings requiring extreme performance all rely heavily on atomic-level processing precision.
In the field of frontier technology, it is an indispensable cornerstone. For example, in quantum computing, Australian research teams have already been able to build quantum simulation devices by "planting" several phosphorus atoms into silicon crystals; in the United States, Zyvex Labs has even developed atomic-level manufacturing equipment capable of achieving a resolution of 0.7 nanometers. These are vivid examples of programming atoms as functional units directly.
The National Race: Why Must China Develop Atomic-Level Manufacturing?
The five academicians clearly stated in their article that raising atomic-level manufacturing to the level of a national strategy is based on a deep understanding of the current international situation and technological development trends.
Firstly, it is a global technological competition where there is no room for error. Countries such as the United States, Japan, and Europe have long regarded atomic-level manufacturing as a core direction for the innovation and development of manufacturing. Since 2015, the United States has launched a series of national programs such as "From Atoms to Products" and "Atomic Precision Manufacturing," and included them in the "National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing." Japan proposed an even more extreme "Pico Manufacturing" concept, while the European Union continues to fund related research through frameworks such as "Horizon Europe." The article emphasizes that China's research in this area is on par with major world powers, each with its own characteristics, and is currently at the same starting line. If China fails to seize the critical window period for transitioning from theoretical breakthroughs to industrialization and quickly convert technical advantages into industrial advantages, it may lose the initiative in future industries and fall back into the old path of tracking and catching up.
Secondly, it is a strategic pathway to break through the "chokehold" technology blockade. The article points out bluntly that atomic-level manufacturing does not depend on traditional manufacturing equipment and processes. Instead, it provides a possibility to break through the Western restrictions on high-end manufacturing. By mastering this "root technology," China could potentially free itself from dependence on external high-end equipment and establish an independent, controllable advanced manufacturing system. This holds immeasurable strategic value for ensuring the security of the national industrial chain.
Finally, it is the core engine driving the transformation and upgrading of China's economy and the development of "new quality productivity." The strength of industrial foundations determines the overall competitiveness of a country's manufacturing. Atomic-level manufacturing technology, by empowering materials, components, parts, and processes to their limits, can fundamentally enhance the "hard capabilities" of the entire industrial system. It can not only significantly improve the performance of defense equipment, support the green and intelligent transformation of traditional industries, but also inject strong momentum into the development of strategic emerging industries such as integrated circuits and aerospace, and give birth to new industry tracks such as quantum information and life sciences. Academicians predict that the industrial scale it will drive and promote will exceed trillions of yuan.
From Lab to Production Line: China's Current Status and Future Path
The academicians' call is not a castle in the air, but based on China's solid foundation. Currently, China is leading the world in some technical directions of atomic-level manipulation and has achieved partial industrialization. For example, Wuxi Micro-Drill Company has successfully industrialized atomic layer deposition equipment and gone public; in areas such as atomic-level catalysts and high-temperature alloy powders, a number of tech-oriented small and medium enterprises have emerged. At the same time, national laboratories, leading enterprises (such as CEC and Huawei), and top universities have established dedicated research institutions and jointly laid out national innovation platforms.
However, there is still a huge gap between laboratory samples and factory-scale production. This is the core of the academicians' suggestions. They have proposed a series of precise policy recommendations aimed at accelerating the industrialization of atomic-level manufacturing:
At the top-level design, we should leverage the advantages of the new national system, quickly launch a special working mechanism involving multiple departments and coordinated efforts between the central and local governments, and formulate a technical breakthrough roadmap and industrial development path.
In terms of policy support, atomic-level manufacturing equipment should be included in the national list of major technological equipment, using China's super-large market advantage to drive applications. At the same time, we should gradually cultivate a batch of specialized, refined, unique, and innovative "little giant" enterprises, and create atomic-level manufacturing pilot zones in suitable regions.
In terms of ecological construction, we need to accelerate the establishment of a national standard system to gain international voice, and provide sufficient "ammunition" for industrial development through financial means such as setting up special funds and establishing green loan channels. At the same time, we should strengthen cross-disciplinary, cross-industry, and international cooperation and exchanges to form a global collaborative innovation mechanism.
In summary, the joint signature of these five academicians has painted a grand and clear blueprint for the future development of China's manufacturing industry. Developing atomic-level manufacturing is a high-risk, high-investment, but equally high-reward long-term endeavor. It not only tests China's scientific and technological strength but also the vision and determination of its national strategy. Whether China can stand out on this new track of "ultimate manufacturing" will profoundly affect its position in the global scientific and technological and industrial landscape in the future.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7521692579948216872/
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