Machine learning makes light work of hard materials

Single image from ACS paper showing Machine Learning Directed Search for Ultraincompressible, Superhard Materials

Source: © American Chemical Society

Algorithm successfully identifies superhard compounds, eliminating the need for lengthy trial and error

A machine learning algorithm developed by US researchers can speed up the discovery of materials with desirable properties. Screening a database of over 100,000 compounds, computers predicted the most promising superhard materials, which the team confirmed by synthesising two of the best candidates.