Chapter 567

Saturday, another sunny day, with sunlight filtering through the leaves and spreading across the lawn outside the coffee shop.

Xu Qingzhou met Professor Zheng Xu from Zhongda. He looked to be in his thirties, with a refined appearance; one look and you could tell he was the type of scholar who likes to bury himself in experiments and is not good with words.

"Professor Zheng, please sit."

"Hello, Professor Xu."

As Zheng Xu sat down, he was also observing Xu Qingzhou. Although he had seen him on TV several times, he was still a bit surprised at their first meeting.

Terribly young.

Young as he was, this Professor Xu possessed a composure and steadiness that didn't belong to his age.

"Professor Zheng, you once worked at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in the United States for five years. I read your papers from that period; it's fair to say they were very brilliant. At the same time, I also looked at your magnetoelectric property analysis and device experiments from last year; the gap is huge, and it can be said to be a failed experiment."

Xu Qingzhou flipped through the materials in his hand and said in a deep voice: "First is the material stability issue. The BiFeO thin film experienced oxygen vacancy migration after multiple electric field cycles, leading to a 30% drop in magnetoelectric coupling efficiency. Second is the process compatibility limitation; the uniformity of the ultra-thin multiferroic film and its compatibility with the CMOS process are insufficient, with a yield rate of only 65%."

Actually, the patented technology Xu Qingzhou has for superconducting thin films could be used in Zheng Xu's experiment. For example, by citing gradient doping technology—that is, La-doped BiFeO—oxygen vacancy migration could be suppressed.

Conservatively estimated, it could improve material performance by at least 30%.

"Yes."

Zheng Xu revealed a dejected expression, nodded in admission, and said with annoyance: "The results of the experiment were far from what I expected, and it was even full of loopholes."

"Would you mind telling me the reason?" Xu Qingzhou nodded.

Zheng Xu said helplessly: "The funding for another project in the institute was insufficient, and in the end, my project funding was cut by 20%, the cycle was shortened by one-third, and some improvement plans hadn't even had time to be implemented."

Xu Qingzhou asked with a smile: "Do you mind if I take a look at the improvement plans?"

"Of course, no problem." Zheng Xu opened his computer, quickly found the former plans, and said solemnly: "These are the two main plans. Please give me your guidance, Professor Xu."

Xu Qingzhou scanned both plans roughly.

The first one is the introduction of gradient doping technology.

The idea is similar to that of Xu Qingzhou and his team; it can be considered a simplified version of the superconducting thin film experiment.

The second plan is based on process innovation, wanting to develop Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technology to improve film uniformity.

"Hmm, after doing these two sets of plans, the performance of your samples could still improve by about 20%. It's just... there are still some places that can continue to be improved."

Zheng Xu sighed in his heart that Xu Qingzhou was indeed a professional. Hearing the latter sentence, his eyes brightened, and he immediately took out his manuscript, looking like he was about to perform calculations: "Please tell me."

"We can talk about the improvements later; let's talk about something else."

Seeing the other party's fanatical appearance, Xu Qingzhou felt a bit helpless and thought to himself: *Great, this Professor Zheng is also a science fanatic. *

Zheng Xu also realized he had gone off-topic, coughed dryly, and put away the manuscript embarrassedly.

Xu Qingzhou returned the materials to Zheng Xu and still asked: "You have your own project team at Zhongda; why would you want to come to this newly established institute?"

Zheng Xu smiled bitterly and said: "If I say it's because of a scientific research dream, would you believe me?"

"Why wouldn't I believe you?" Xu Qingzhou asked back.

Zheng Xu was stunned. When he mentioned scientific research dreams when he was young, some people might praise him for having ambition, but at his age, others would more likely tell him not to be too naive.

Idealism is useless; one must focus on reality.

That's right, Professor Xu also refused a high salary abroad to return to the country.

Zheng Xu felt quite like he had found a kindred spirit.

He still felt that the domestic academic atmosphere was too impetuous; while doing scientific research, one also has to involve themselves in various social connections—half the people are doing academics, and half are doing social favors.

Zheng Xu let out a breath in secret and said in a deep voice: "I need a good stage, one with a material foundation and space to display my talents."

"The Kyoto Institute of Materials has first-class equipment; the first phase of equipment exceeds 90% of the institutes in Xia Nation. Most importantly, it will have a brand-new operating system, without the bloat and shackles of other domestic institutes. I feel it can allow me to fully stretch my legs."

Xu Qingzhou said: "You should know that the institute's recent goal is to solve lithium dendrites and the shuttle effect, both of which are long-standing, difficult problems in the battery field. The worst-case scenario is that after two years, the entire institute won't be able to produce any results. In other words, the future is not as bright as you imagine."

Although they had only chatted for ten minutes, Xu Qingzhou could already feel the pride in the other party, or rather, this is the pursuit of academics.

"I am mentally prepared."

30 minutes passed quietly.

Xu Qingzhou stood up, smiled, reached out his hand, and said: "Professor Zheng Xu, welcome to the team."

"Thank you."

After Xu Qingzhou finished the interview, the remaining matters were handled by Ji Yunshi and Zheng Xu. He went to the East Gate to meet up with Song Yao and took a taxi to Xishan No. 1 Courtyard.

Actually, the houses at Wanliu Wancheng Huafu Xiyuan are quite good and belong to the type of top-tier real estate, but they weren't satisfied with the few houses there.

Xishan No. 1 Courtyard is in the Haidian Xishan area, close to the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace, and not far from the institute and Zhongguancun; it takes about 20 minutes to get there.

The environment is relatively quiet, and the price is cheaper compared to Wanliu Wancheng Huafu Xiyuan.

Overall, this is the most suitable one.

"Professor Xu, Miss Song, welcome."

As soon as the two got out of the car, a middle-aged man in a suit came up to greet them. This is Jia Zhanpeng, the sales manager they had already been in contact with.

Xishan No. 1 Courtyard is located in the "Three Mountains and Five Gardens" royal garden scenic area, with an average price between 120,000 and 200,000 per square meter.

"Hello, Manager Jia, sorry to trouble you today."

"Professor Xu, you're too polite, please come this way. We are currently in the North District of Xishan No. 1 Courtyard, adjacent to the north side of the Summer Palace, preserving 100,000 square meters of native mountain terrain, with a greening rate reaching 45%..."

Jia Zhanpeng politely welcomed the two in and introduced the situation of the residential area to them.

Then he led them directly toward Building 8 in District D.

"This villa uses Italian gray marble for main materials, Japanese bamboo wood integrated walls, and a whole-house intelligent control system..."

"The market price is 60 million to 120 million. This unit's internal price is 82 million, but Professor Xu enjoys a talent discount, which can be 30% off..."

Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao walked around the villa; it wasn't much different from the pictures, and the visual impression on-site was even better.

After seeing District D, the two moved to Buildings W1-W4 of Xishan No. 1 Courtyard.

This villa has a building area of 400 square meters. Besides the underground garage, there are two floors above ground, the very top is a 100-square-meter open-air viewing platform, and there is also a 200-square-meter fully fenced courtyard.

Jia Zhanpeng was quite professional and thorough, even sighing: "Single-family villas in the West District are extremely scarce. In recent years, only 1 unit has flowed into the judicial auction market. This unit is a reserved property specifically for you. Except for the 'King of Buildings' in the middle, there is no better location in the entire West District than this one."

"Okay, thank you, let us take a look by ourselves first."

"Alright~"

(End of chapter)