Great Country Academician

Looking at Wen Yuanhang who was rarely impatient, Xu Chuan took out a document from the drawer and handed it over with a smile.

"This is the latest achievement on lithium-sulfur batteries from the Sichuan-Hai Materials Research Institute. You can take it back to show it to professionals."

He actually understood Wen Yuanhang's anxious state of mind.

Because although the battery is small, it is an important part of the national strategic development.

From people's livelihood to national defense, from mobile phones and computers to aerospace and aviation, they are all inseparable from a small battery.

Wen Yuanhang quickly took the report document and flipped through it briefly.

Among the test data for lithium-sulfur batteries, the battery energy density test information that he was most concerned about came into his eyes.

2117.24Wh/Kg!

The energy density is as high as over 2,000, which is more than twice that of lithium-ion batteries currently on the market!

Of course, if we talk about energy density alone, this value is not really a new record in lithium batteries today when the problem of lithium dendrites has been solved.

In many laboratories in various countries, there are actually many different types of lithium battery products that are higher than this.

For example, the Argonne National Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy successfully developed and tested a new lithium-sulfur battery in the laboratory in the first half of this year, with an energy density of 2,300Wh/kg.

Even the Sakura Kingdom has developed the legendary lithium-air battery. In the laboratory, the energy density simply exceeded that of traditional lithium batteries.

But laboratory products are still laboratory products after all and cannot be put on the market.

In the hands of those researchers, sometimes the research carried out in the laboratory is not necessarily something that is commercialized, but may also be done to limit testing, or to earn reputation.

Argonne National Laboratory's lithium-sulfur battery with a capacity of up to 2,300Wh/kg is what came out of the extreme test of lithium batteries.

Aside from the fact that the energy density is eye-catching, all other attributes can be said to be rubbish.

The charge and discharge cycle causes strain, the sulfur compounds in the battery block the electrolyte after use, the battery automatically shuts down or even explodes in high and low temperature environments, etc.

Due to a series of defects, even with extremely high energy density, it cannot be officially launched for commercial production.

Batteries that cannot be produced commercially do not have much meaning.

But the report in his hands was completely different.

The lithium-sulfur battery developed by the Chuanhai Materials Research Institute does not have a simple energy density of 2,000, but is something that is truly practical and can be commercialized.

All the testing steps and testing contents for lithium batteries such as low temperature, high temperature, vibration, impact, extreme testing, etc. have been completed. Judging from the experimental data, it is not said to be excellent, but it is definitely above the standard line.

Such lithium-sulfur batteries only need to wait for the announcement to cause a violent earthquake in the current battery industry.

After briefly turning over the report in his hand, Wen Yuanhang looked at Xu Chuan, unable to suppress the excitement in his heart, and said with admiration: "As expected of Academician Xu, he is leading the world again!"

Xu Chuan shook his head and said: "This research result has little to do with me. It is the work of the Sichuan and Hainan Materials Research Institute."

Wen Yuanhang smiled and did not dwell on this.

Xu Chuan said it was the Chuanhai Materials Research Institute's contribution, so that's good. The research institute belongs to him anyway.

From a national level, no matter who develops lithium-sulfur batteries, as long as they are produced domestically, they are absolutely good.

Based on China's first implementation of controllable nuclear fusion technology, batteries determine their deployment and control progress in the world's new energy fields, especially in the field of new energy vehicles.

China's strength in the automotive field, just like the traditional aerospace field, can be said to be far behind those Western countries.

For a long time in the past, joint venture cars have been the most trusted automotive products for ordinary people.

As for domestic production? I have to say, what kind of garbage is that?

Even in 2023, when domestically produced cars are developing very rapidly, this concept is still quite strong in the country.

On the one hand, most of the top luxury brand cars are foreign cars. On the other hand, the domestic automobile industry is indeed "extremely weak".

Not to mention traditional fuel vehicles, their development is indeed decades behind others. As Western countries have established their own channels and credibility, it is indeed very difficult to catch up.

But new energy

A few years ago, for many unknown car manufacturers, this thing was just a thing used to defraud insurance.

The domestic ecological environment was once in such bad condition that even the highest level officials could not stand it.

But fortunately, with the introduction of Tesla as a catfish and a series of policy changes, a group of new energy vehicle companies have successfully emerged from the rotten environment.

However, it is still quite difficult to go global and occupy a place in terms of sales and influence.

Especially in the layout of high-end luxury brands, it is even more difficult to break through the siege.

Lithium-sulfur batteries may be this opportunity.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, USA, surrounded by the Chicago Forest Preserve.

Professor Theresa Achille, who was sorting out experimental data in her office, was humming a tune and happily replying to and processing emails and documents one after another.

Argonne National Laboratory is affiliated with the Energy Institute. Nobel Prize winner Fermi led the team to build mankind's first controllable nuclear fission reactor (Chicago Reactor No. 1) here in 1942, completing an important part of the Manhattan Project. ring, and ushered in the atomic energy age.

After World War II, Argonne was tasked with developing atomic reactors for peaceful uses. Over the decades, the laboratory's research expanded to include many other areas of science, engineering, and technology.

What Professor Theresa Achill is leading is the Battery Project, which is part of the most important energy program in the Argonne Laboratory.

Just about two months ago, an experimental team in the lithium battery project he led made a major breakthrough in the field of lithium-sulfur batteries.

While studying lithium-sulfur batteries, the research team discovered that an allotrope of sulfur has the ability to stabilize the 'shuttle effect'.

When subsequent research was carried out, it was found that the risk of polysulfide formation in lithium-sulfur batteries could be further eliminated by using different materials.

The best auxiliary material among them is carbon nanomaterials. Through continuous experiments, they have determined that assisted by high-purity carbon nanotube materials, the shuttle effect and polysulfide damage of lithium-sulfur batteries can be solved to a certain extent. Battery Risk.

Judging from the current experimental progress, it is estimated that they will be able to complete this "brilliant" project in a while and develop the latest generation of lithium-sulfur batteries.

The superb energy density of lithium-sulfur batteries can undoubtedly completely crush all lithium-ion batteries currently on the market.

Thinking of this, Theresa Achill couldn't help but raise a smile.

Batteries are a trillion-level market. If we can monopolize this market, the huge benefits it can bring are unimaginable.

He has already seen a lot of money and fame waving towards him.

Even if the results belong to the laboratory, as the leader of the "battery project", his credit will naturally not be lost.

Even after solving the shuttle effect of lithium-sulfur batteries, it is not impossible for him to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

After all, the chemistry awards in recent years have not resulted in many real achievements in the field of chemistry. Most of the medals have been awarded to the field of biochemistry.

The shuttle effect of lithium-sulfur batteries is undoubtedly an extremely important real chemical problem.

I believe that the Nobel Royal Jury will definitely include this achievement in the nomination.

While he was dreaming of a better life in the future, the sound of rapid footsteps outside the office came.

Immediately, after a few knocks on the door, a white female assistant wearing glasses broke in without waiting for Theresa Achill to say "invite", holding a paper in her hand.

Looking at the assistant who broke in, Theresa Achill, who was in a good mood, didn't mind this behavior and asked with a smile: "Kelly, what's the matter? You're in such a hurry, so be careful when you fall."

"Director Theresa, the situation is not good."

With a hint of anxiety on her face, Kelly Vicki quickly handed over the document in her hand, and continued without taking a breath: "China seems to have made a major breakthrough in the field of lithium-sulfur batteries!"

Hearing this, Theresa Achil was stunned for a moment, then smiled and didn't care too much.

"Huaguo? What breakthroughs can they make in lithium-sulfur batteries? The artificial SEI thin film technology developed by Professor Xu has not allowed them to grasp this huge market."

It's not that he looks down on China, but it's a real thing.

Even though the core technology of artificial SEI film technology leads the world, China has failed to control the lithium battery market. Now they have fully caught up, and many of their batteries have even surpassed each other in capacity, occupying a large swath of the market.

Assistant Kelly Vicki on the opposite side quickly replied: "But this breakthrough has something to do with Professor Xu Chuan. It was made public by his Chuanhai Materials Research Institute, which is the laboratory that developed the artificial SEI film. .”

Hearing this, Theresa Achill was stunned again, then frowned slightly, and quickly took the paper from the assistant.

Like the shadow of a famous tree, the name Xu Chuan has become too loud in recent years.

Even if he looked down upon Hua's scientific research capabilities, he could not ignore Professor Xu.

What's more, the artificial SEI film was originally developed by him. If there is some breakthrough in lithium-sulfur batteries, it may be possible.

After getting the "Science" magazine from the assistant, Professor Theresa Achille opened the paper.

Immediately, the title of the paper came into his eyes, causing his pupils to shrink suddenly.

"'Monoclinic Gamma Phase Sulfur', the end of the 'sulfur' problem in lithium-sulfur batteries! 》

"Damn it, it must not be the shuttle effect we are studying!"

After the title came into view, Theresa Achille's heart suddenly trembled, and she gritted her teeth and quickly read through it.

As the paper entered his eyes page by page, and the data flashed across his eyes, after seeing the conclusions and experimental data of the last few pages, he angrily smashed the coffee cup in his hand against the white office wall.

With a crisp sound, the glass hit the wall and broke into countless glass pieces. The dark brown coffee suddenly dyed a brown map on the white wall.

The assistant stood nearby with his head lowered, not daring to express his anger, for fear that he would attract Professor Aqil's attention.

As an assistant, she is well aware of the recent breakthroughs in lithium-sulfur batteries and the consequences of this paper.

It can be said that as soon as this paper came out, all their previous research was scrapped.

Seeing the coffee splashed all over the wall, Professor Theresa Achille, who is responsible for the research direction of lithium-sulfur batteries in the Institute of Energy and Global Security, forced herself to calm down.

Suppressing the anger in his heart, he coldly said to his assistant: "Check! Damn it! I want to know who leaked the secrets of the laboratory!"

There are many people paying attention to Xu Chuan's movements. From him to the research institutes under his name, whether it is Xinghai Research Institute, Chuanhai Materials Research Institute, or the Internet Technology Co., Ltd., they are basically being followed by various countries. within range.

After the information related to lithium-sulfur batteries appeared, countries naturally paid attention to the relevant information as soon as possible.

As a national laboratory affiliated with the U.S. Energy Corporation, Argonne National Laboratory is no exception.

But after receiving the paper, Professor Theresa Achill, who is responsible for lithium-sulfur battery research at the Institute of Energy and Global Security, was extremely angry.

"'Monoclinic Gamma Phase Sulfur' The end of the 'sulfur' problem in lithium-sulfur batteries! 》

A paper is almost consistent with their research direction. The research direction on both sides is the allotrope of sulfur, 'monoclinic gamma phase sulfur', and even a further direction is to use carbon materials to study the 'monoclinic gamma phase'. Sulfur' carries out stabilization.

The only difference is that Argonne National Laboratory uses carbon nanotube materials, while their opponent, the Sichuan-Hai Materials Research Institute, uses graphite that they have studied and discarded.

It is hard not to suspect that someone in the laboratory leaked previous research data.

After all, judging from the papers, the research directions and ideas are no longer generally similar.

Although no one has stipulated that two different research institutes cannot use the same research method, it is extremely rare for such a coincidence to happen.

"What are you doing here, why don't you go and investigate?!"

Seeing his assistant standing there in a daze, Professor Theresa Achille became furious again, raised her brows and cursed angrily.

"I'll go right away."

After hearing it for the second time, the assistant realized what he was saying, responded in a panic and ran out quickly.

Theresa Achill glanced at the assistant's back, sat back behind the desk with a sullen face, picked up the landline phone, and dialed a number. After a brief chat, he ended the call and returned his gaze to the papers on his desk.

In the field of materials, if a competitor takes the lead in a certain same research direction, it means that all other people's research will be scrapped.

The market is so cruel.

Especially in the battery field, although they are also very hopeful to solve the shuttle effect of lithium-sulfur batteries, how will the market make a choice when faced with a product in the laboratory and a mature technology? You can even think about it with your toes.

"Damn it! This is not over!"

Looking at the eye-catching title on the paper, Theresa Archie gritted her teeth and felt very unwilling.

He must report it to Congress!

Argonne National Laboratory cannot just be lost like this!

Also, don’t let him catch who leaked the laboratory’s research data, otherwise he will definitely send him to San Quentin’s prison!