I am devoted to scientific research, but you want to trick me into having a love relationship?

Chapter 502 Are all geniuses so crazy?
There are two core issues regarding materials at this stage.

First, the problem of lithium dendrites. Lithium dendrites may pierce the diaphragm and cause a short circuit, triggering thermal runaway or even explosion. Lithium dendrites are common in the liquid electrolyte system of ternary lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries.

The current solutions mainly involve using solid electrolytes or optimizing the structure.

Second, there is the shuttle effect. When the lithium-sulfur battery is discharged, the polysulfide (LiS) generated at the sulfur positive electrode dissolves in the electrolyte and migrates to the lithium negative electrode to form irreversible deposition, which in turn leads to loss of active materials, capacity attenuation and decreased Coulombic efficiency.

The core challenges at the industrial level include manufacturing precision and consistency, high costs and resource limitations, dependence on high-priced metals and energy density bottlenecks.

Xu Qingzhou's attention finally focused on the three words "lithium dendrites", which is a common problem at present, and finally focused on the shuttle effect.

Lithium-sulfur batteries have a theoretical energy density of up to 2600Wh\kg, and once the limitations of materials are overcome, they will be very promising.

However, since this was an experiment he came up with on a whim, it would be inappropriate for him to use the school's equipment for free.

ALD (atomic layer deposition) equipment costs about $120-$400 per hour, and the equipment they use for their experiments costs $120 per hour. The CVD equipment usage fee is about $100/hour, and the characterization equipment such as SEM, TEM, XRD, etc., and the cost of morphology and structure analysis also ranges from $50-$150/hour.

This is the price after the discount within the school.

In November, Boston officially enters winter and the weather starts to get cooler.

On Thursday, after completing the electrochemical stripping of the last two samples, Xu Qingzhou asked Sun Simin and Carls to send the samples for TEM characterization testing.

There are four sets of samples, and only 2 hours of appointments per day, which means it will take at least four days to complete.

There is nothing we can do about it.

The level of their research group is not high, so they have to give time to larger research groups.

Today the laboratory belongs to a semiconductor team, and they are organizing data.

Xu Qingzhou asked Carson to conduct a simple characterization test on two samples that were coated with a single layer of WS when preparing graphene. He had a rare free time, so after thinking about it, he decided to go to Professor Roberts and have some coffee.

Horn was the only one in the office.

"Hi, Professor Xu, long time no see." After not seeing each other for a long time, Horne grew a big beard and greeted Xu Qingzhou enthusiastically: "Sir, how can I help you?"

Xu Qingzhou sat down and said with a smile: "I want a cup of your best coffee."

"Ok, latte, coming right up."

Horn began to work.

Xu Qingzhou looked around the office. As always, the crowded office was filled with an academic atmosphere. "How is your project going? Is it the final stage?"

While making coffee, Horn said, "Yes, the teacher is going to a meeting to discuss how to put the algorithm into the company's APP."

"Congratulations."

"And there are troublesome tests."

Horn shrugged and said, "You know, those ignorant investors are not like us, pursuing mathematical truth. They only care whether the subject can make money for them."

The two chatted for a while, and then coffee with a rich aroma was brought to Xu Qingzhou.

Horn also sat down and asked, "I heard your experiment didn't go very well?"

"It seems that this is not a secret."

Xu Qingzhou smiled gently, took a sip of coffee, and thought to himself that he was indeed a professional.

Horn comforted: "Relax. Apparently, this is a common thing in the laboratory. However, I still admire you for rejecting Professor Carlisle's project invitation."

Xu Qingzhou was helpless: "Mathematics, unfortunately, is not in my plan at the moment."

"sharp."

Horn was a little envious. When would he be able to be so domineering and reject a project worth tens of millions of dollars just by saying no?

The two chatted for a while about Horn's research project, and Xu Qingzhou stood up to say goodbye. "OK, thank you for the coffee. I have to go to Professor Wilson's place."

Horn was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but ask: "Ah? Are you going to give up the experiment?" "I'm going to do another experiment."

"."

"Oh, Xu, you are confused because of the fever!"

Horn stared with his eyes wide open, wondering if he was too tired and had hearing problems. The topic of superconducting thin films was already a headache, and he wanted to do a second one.

Xu Qingzhou sighed, thinking that this guy was really surprised and actually called him by his last name correctly.

Seeing Xu Qingzhou's serious expression, Horn took a deep breath and asked, "Okay, what experiment do you want to do?"

Xu Qingzhou smiled and said, "Don't be so surprised about the battery. You should try more when you are young."

Horn was speechless and could only sigh that Xu Qingzhou would never return on the road of physics.

Superconducting thin films.

battery
Damn it, he studied math!

The other side.

"Professor Xu, welcome." Wilson stood up to greet him warmly and personally poured a cup of coffee for Xu Qingzhou.

"Thank you."

This time it was Xu Qingzhou's turn to be surprised. It seemed like he had something to ask him.

Wilson didn't beat around the bush and said directly: "It's like this. After discussion, the academic committee wants to hold a number theory seminar in December. I hope you can give a report on it."

Xu Qingzhou: "Academic seminar?"

Song Yao just said yesterday that she was going to attend a seminar, and now it’s my turn.

The end of the year is indeed a good time to launch new topics or showcase research results, consolidate one's "dominant" position in the field, and enhance academic discourse power.

"Yes."

Wilson nodded and said, "You must know that MIT has always been in a difficult position. In short, the committee has always wanted to strengthen MIT's position in the mathematics community."

Although MIT has been placed in the top tier of mathematics departments in recent years, and some world university mathematics rankings even rank MIT first, it does not have many Fields Medal winners. Only eight alumni or faculty members have won the Fields Medal.

Princeton has 17 Fields Medal winners, and Harvard has 18 Fields Medal winners.

It's a bit embarrassing that MIT got first place.

This is also the reason why MIT tried hard to invite Xu Qingzhou. A Fields Medal winner is the face of a top university, and his importance is self-evident.

"I'm OK."

Xu Qingzhou didn't think too much about it.

After all, he earns $50 a year, so it's not unreasonable for MIT to use its name to gain some publicity. Moreover, this is also a rare opportunity to communicate with other scholars.

"Okay, just concentrate on preparing the report, and the school will take care of the rest."

Wilson stroked his beard, smiling. After a pause, he remembered to ask Xu Qingzhou why he came to see him, and hesitantly asked, "Did you come here specially?"

"I want to do some experiments on batteries and need to rent a laboratory at school."

"."

Half an hour later, with Professor Wilson's complicated expression on his face, Xu Qingzhou left with a slight smile. There was nothing wrong with it. After all, it was Xu Qingzhou who paid for it himself. He was just using the school's equipment, which was common in the school.

Next, Xu Qingzhou only needs to fill out an application form and project plan and send them to the technology transfer office, which will review them and draft a special agreement.

Then, just deposit the equipment fee into the account.

(End of this chapter)