Chapter 502: Are geniuses all this crazy

The core problems in terms of materials at the current stage are two.

First, lithium dendrite problem. Lithium dendrites may pierce the separator causing short circuits, triggering thermal runaway and even explosions. The liquid electrolyte system of ternary lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries is liked, lithium dendrites are ubiquitous.

And the current solution is mainly to adopt solid-state electrolytes, or do structural optimization.

Second, it is the shuttle effect. When lithium-sulfur batteries discharge, the polysulfides (LiSx) generated by the sulfur cathode dissolve in the electrolyte, migrate to the lithium anode to form irreversible deposition, and at the same time cause active material loss, capacity decay, and Coulomb efficiency decline.

The core challenges at the industrial level, manufacturing precision and consistency, high cost and resource constraints, high-priced metal dependence and energy density bottlenecks.

Xu Qingzhou's gaze finally focused on the three words "lithium dendrite", this is the current general problem, and finally focused on the shuttle effect.

Lithium-sulfur batteries, the theoretical energy density is as high as 2600Wh/kg, once breaking through the material constraints, it is quite promising.

However, since this was an experiment he thought of on a whim, it was not good to free-ride the school's equipment again.

ALD (atomic layer deposition) equipment is about $120–$400 per hour, the equipment they experiment with is 120 USD per hour, CVD equipment usage fee is about $100/hour, characterization equipment SEM, TEM, XRD, etc., morphology and structural analysis fees are also $50–$150/hour.

This is still the price after the school's internal discount.

In November, Boston is officially entering winter, and the temperature starts to cool down.

On Thursday, finished the electrochemical stripping of the last two samples, Xu Qingzhou let Sun Simin and Carson send the samples for TEM characterization testing.

Four sets of samples, only reserved 2 hours per day, which means at least four days are needed to get it done.

This is also no way.

Their research group level is not high, have to give time to large research groups.

The laboratory today belongs to a team doing semiconductors, they just happened to organize data.

Xu Qingzhou let Carson perform simple characterization detection on the two samples he coated with a single layer of WS2 during graphene preparation, he himself was rarely free, thought for a while, simply went to Professor Roberts' side, and had a cup of coffee.

Only Horn was in the office.

"Hi, Professor Xu, long time no see." Long time no see, Horn grew a big beard, enthusiastically greeted Xu Qingzhou: "Sir, what service do you need?"

Xu Qingzhou sat down, said with a smile: "Need a cup of coffee you are best at."

"OK, latte, coming right up."

Horn started working.

Xu Qingzhou looked at the office, same as before, crowded and revealing an academic atmosphere, "How is your project, the last stage, right?"

Horn said while making coffee: "That's right, teacher is going to a meeting, discussing how to throw the algorithm into the enterprise's app."

"Congratulations."

"Still troublesome testing."

Horn shrugged and said: "You know, those ignorant investors are not like us, pursuing mathematical truth, they only care about whether the subject can earn banknotes for them."

The two chatted, after a while, the coffee with rich coffee fragrance was placed in front of Xu Qingzhou.

Horn also sat down and asked: "Heard your experiment is not going well?"

"Seems this is not a secret."

Xu Qingzhou smiled lightly, secretly saying it was professional.

Horn comforted: "Relax... obviously, this is common in the laboratory, however, I still admire you, actually refused Professor Carlisle's project invitation."

Xu Qingzhou was helpless: "Mathematics, very regretful, currently not in my plan."

"Powerful."

Horn was a bit envious, when could he be like this, tens of millions of projects said refuse then refuse.

The two chatted about Horn's research group, Xu Qingzhou also stood up and said goodbye, "OK, thank you for your coffee, I have to go to Professor Wilson's side."

Horn was stunned, couldn't help but say: "Ah? You are preparing to give up the experiment?"

"I am preparing to do another experiment."

"..."

"Oh, Xu, are you feverish and delirious!"

Holen widened his eyes, suspecting he was too tired and his hearing was failing. The superconducting thin film project was already headache-inducing enough; he wanted to start a second one?

Xu Qingzhou felt moved, thinking to himself that this guy was truly surprised—he actually got his surname right.

Seeing Xu Qingzhou's serious expression, Holen took a deep breath before asking, "Fine, what I'm more curious about now is, what kind of experiment do you want to do?"

Xu Qingzhou said with a smile, "Something regarding batteries. Don't be so surprised; you should try more things while you're young."

Holen was speechless, only able to lament that Xu Qingzhou was gone for good on the path of physics.

Superconducting thin films.

Batteries.

Damn it, he was clearly a math major!

On the other side.

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

"Thank you."

This time it was Xu Qingzhou's turn to be surprised. Looking at it like this, it seemed there was something he needed him for.

Wilson didn't beat around the bush either, saying directly, "It's like this: after the academic committee discussed it, they want to hold a number theory seminar in December and hope you can give a report there."

Xu Qingzhou: "An academic seminar?"

Song Yao had just said yesterday that she was going to attend a seminar, and now it was his turn.

The end of the year was indeed a good time to launch new topics or showcase research results, consolidate one's "hegemonic" status in the field, and strengthen academic discourse power.

"Yes."

Wilson nodded and said, "I'm sure you know that MIT has always been in an awkward position. In short, the committee has always hoped to strengthen MIT's status in the mathematical community."

Over these years, although MIT was placed in the top tier of mathematics departments—some world university math major rankings even placed MIT first—it didn't have many Fields Medal winners; cumulatively, only 8 alumni or faculty members had won the Fields Medal.

Princeton had 17 Fields Medal winners. Harvard had even more, with 18.

MIT's claim to this first place was a bit awkward.

This was also the reason MIT had desperately invited Xu Qingzhou in the first place; a Fields Medal winner was the face of a top university, and the importance was self-evident.

"I have no problem with that."

Xu Qingzhou didn't overthink it.

After all, he was receiving an annual salary of 500,000 USD; it wasn't an unreasonable request for MIT to borrow his name to bolster their reputation. Moreover, this was a rare opportunity to communicate with other scholars.

"Good, you only need to focus on preparing the report; the school will arrange the other matters."

Wilson stroked his beard, all smiles. He paused, then remembered to ask Xu Qingzhou the purpose of his visit, hesitating, "You came here specifically for...?"

"I want to do some experiments regarding batteries and need to rent the school's laboratory."

"..."

Half an hour passed. Under Professor Wilson's complex expression, Xu Qingzhou left with a light smile. It was no problem; after all, Xu Qingzhou himself was paying for it, and he was just using the school's equipment, which was common at the school.

Next, Xu Qingzhou only needed to fill out an application form and a project plan, send it to the Technology Transfer Office's email, and they would review it and draft a specific agreement.

And after that, he just had to deposit the equipment fees.

(End of chapter)