Optical image-based thickness characterization of atomically thin nanomaterials using computer vision techniques

TL;DR

This study introduces a computer vision-based method for determining the layer number of atomically thin nanomaterials from optical images, offering a faster and cost-effective alternative to traditional microscopy techniques.

Contribution

The paper develops an automated computer vision approach for layer characterization of nanomaterials using optical images, improving speed and efficiency over existing methods.

Findings

Achieved 89% success rate in layer number classification.

Average processing time of 15 seconds per sample.

Demonstrated potential to replace traditional microscopy methods.

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to develop a novel method of characterizing nanomaterials based on the number of layers without the aid of state-of-the-art electron and force microscopes. While previous research groups have attempted to establish a correlation between optical image contrast and layer number for inferring layer numbers of nanomaterials with already well-known software such as ImageJ and Gwyddion SPM Analysis, the work for this study strived to automate the image contrast-based characterization of the layer numbers using computer vision algorithms. After acquiring the necessary data points using graphene samples from another study and nanoscale MoTe2 samples through an experimental method consisted of using both ImageJ and Gwyddion, curve fitting in RStudio was used to create quadratic models that were incorporated in a computer vision method composed of three algorithms. In total, 12 MoTe2 and 16 graphene samples were used in 28 test trials in order to determine the efficiencies of the algorithms in layer number characterization. Ultimately, a success rate of 89% was obtained with an average overall run time of 15 seconds for the computer vision method. As a consequence, this computational method may be faster, more effective, and more cost-effective than current widely used electron, atomic force, and optical microscopy techniques.