If you cheat, money will follow

After mutual introduction, Liu Chaoyang reported the progress of the new project to Chang Le.

"Boss, overall, progress is relatively slow."

"Among the five major indicators, we only improved energy density and safety, but did not take into account charge and discharge efficiency, cost control and cycle life. In other words, we cannot leave the laboratory yet."

"This is understandable, after all, it hasn't been long since the official start." Chang Le said:

"You told me before that scientific research is a combination of necessity and contingency. It requires the right direction and accidental bursts of inspiration. If you accumulate more, it will naturally fall into place."

"The main reason is that the success of the last project was too sudden." Liu Chaoyang said.

"You yourself said that the success of the last project was mainly based on the achievements accumulated by your teachers over the past few decades. Moreover, the research method is also different from the current scientific research system and belongs to the "deviant approach."" Chang Le asked:

"What's the progress of other countries on this project?"

"It's roughly on the same horizontal line, but in different directions." Liu Chaoyang said.

"The directions are different? Aren't they all solid?" Chang Le didn't understand.

"The electrolytes are different, so the research directions are different." Liu Chaoyang explained.

Liu Chaoyang is now starting to study solid-state batteries.

This is his main business.

There are three main directions for solid-state batteries.

Japan is taking the sulfide direction.

Sulfide has poor air stability. When exposed to the air, toxic gases will be produced, accompanied by electrolyte structural damage and performance degradation.

Such characteristics make the synthesis, storage, transportation and subsequent processing of sulfide electrolytes highly dependent on inert gases and drying chambers, which results in relatively high costs.

China is taking the oxide direction. The oxide direction has better oxidation stability.

However, in order to maintain good interface contact with the cathode material, high-temperature sintering is required, which will lead to serious interface chemical side reactions and also produce lithium dendrites.

Lithium dendrites are the main factor causing combustion and explosion of lithium batteries.

Europe and the United States are taking the direction of polymers. Under room temperature conditions, the ionic conductivity is low and needs to be completed in a high-temperature environment, which limits commercial application. "

"So there's no major breakthrough?" Chang Le said.

"It depends on how you define a breakthrough. If you define a breakthrough by stepping out of the laboratory, it is expected to be very difficult in the short term." Liu Chaoyang said:

"If anyone has an advantage, it's Japan."

"They were the earliest in the field, and the patents they applied for accounted for half of all patents. Especially in the sulfide direction, we cannot avoid them if we want to delve deeper into this direction."

Chang Le nodded: "Oh, in the field of materials, they are indeed very focused and dedicated, and have the best foundation. It is normal to be ahead."

"However, I believe that if a technology is absolutely dominated or even monopolized by one country, then this technology will not have a market and industrial foundation."

"The boss is right. Once they occupy an absolute monopoly, this field will be abandoned by other countries due to the lack of market and industrial support." Liu Chaoyang said with a smile:

"Unless this road must be taken, there is no way around it."

You can refer to hydrogen energy technology, other countries will not play with them.

Chang Le nodded: "What direction are we going in?"

"None of the above three directions are taken. We are taking the metal halide direction." Liu Chaoyang said.

"Metal halide electrolytes have the advantages of a wide electrochemical stability "window", good ionic conductivity, and high compatibility with oxide cathode materials."

"But the disadvantage is more obvious. The synthesis of metal halide electrolytes requires expensive and scarce elements."

"This will greatly increase costs and affect commercial use. Now we just want to find alternative cheap elements."

"Oh." This already involved the professional field. Chang Le couldn't understand it, so he could only respond with the word "oh" noncommittally.

"Boss, the research and development of this new project involves many disciplines, such as high-throughput calculations, large-scale dynamics calculations, material mechanics, artificial intelligence, precise material preparation, thermal runaway conditions and mechanisms, cell design and manufacturing, etc. We The scientific research strength of the institute is already stretched thin," Liu Chaoyang said.

"I know that your report, Mr. Zeng, has already been sent to me. After reading it, I told Mr. Zeng that I would strongly support it. However, I object to your personal trip abroad to recruit big names and talents." Chang Le said.

"Why?" Liu Chaoyang asked.

"You should know the reason. The first-generation products of ceramic aluminum materials have amazing performance, and have been closely followed and paid attention to by some countries and companies. They have taken corresponding drastic measures before, but they failed. Failure will not make them give up; it will only Let them take more decisive and drastic measures. Relevant departments have warned us many times, and we have to take precautions. When you go abroad, are you going to be a sheep in a tiger's mouth?" Chang Le said.

"Boss, how will the research institute expand its scale and projects?" Liu Chaoyang said with a frown.

"The next best thing is that there are good teams and talents in China, which can be vigorously recruited and cooperated with. There are indeed irreplaceable foreign experts. You can contact them online and entrust Zhou Yu of the parent company or your friends to contact you. Let me tell you the truth. , your passport has been restricted, mainly to protect you." Chang Le continued:

"I went to Leda Automobile before coming here. Yu Chengdong is also planning to set up a specialized technology research and development institution. He said he wants to connect with you and carry out division of labor and cooperation."

"There is no problem in cooperating with Leda Automobile, but we will not carry out the work according to their rhythm. We have our own plan." Liu Chaoyang said.

"I have explained this to him before coming to the institute. The positioning of Pingtouge Research Institute and Leda Automotive Research Institute are different. The former is not limited in its direction and explores cutting-edge science and cutting-edge applications on its own, while the latter focuses on automobile-related research. Applied research is the main focus to open up the outlet. The two institutions can overlap, divide and collaborate appropriately, but cannot overlap. When there are major differences of opinion, the parent company will step in to coordinate, but it will still fully respect the initiative of you and Yu Chengdong," Chang Le said. .

"Thank you, boss. I will contact him in the future, but I still regret that I can't go abroad." Liu Chaoyang said.

"You should be proud. Your identity and status have reached a very high level now." Chang Le said.

"Haha, from this point of view, it is indeed true." Liu Chaoyang laughed.

After listening to Liu Chaoyang's situation report, Chang Le took Jiang Xia and left Pingtou Ge Research Institute.

"My work is done, and the rest of the time is yours." Chang Le said.

Jiang Xia nodded, but instead of being happy, he showed a worried expression.

"What's wrong?" Chang Le asked

"Didn't you just say that Dean Liu is being watched by some countries? You are his boss, could it be..." Jiang Xia said worriedly

"Hey... you are just worrying. Is Dean Liu comparable to ordinary people? He has core secrets in his head. Who am I? Which institution has enough money to keep an eye on me." Chang Le knew in his heart, He doesn't say.

"I'm not stupid." Jiang Xia said:

"It's still necessary to nip problems in the bud."

"Chang Le, I think we should be very careful in the future and try not to go abroad. Even if we have to go abroad, then..."

Before Jiang Xia finished speaking, he was interrupted by Chang Le's call.

Chang Le picked up the phone and saw that it was his mother Tan Xiaoya's call.

"Hey, mom!"

"Oh, that's right, I understand."

"Xiaoxia is by my side. I know that I will take her with me."

"Okay, then I'll meet you in Renhe County."

Chang Le ended the call and Jiang Xia asked, "Auntie called, what's the matter?"

"My mother asked us to go back to my hometown this weekend because my cousin is getting married." Chang Le said

"Getting married, this is a happy event. You ask, does my sister-in-law need a bridesmaid? I haven't been a bridesmaid yet." Jiang Xia was very enthusiastic.

"You want to be the bridesmaid? It's better not to. You can't take over the honors." Chang Le refused with a smile.

Given Jiang Xia's appearance, no matter how simple a bridesmaid outfit she wears, it will dwarf the bride.

Although I have never met my cousin-in-law.

"Am I really so good to you?" Jiang Xia asked deliberately.

"Of course, there is no lie at all. It can illuminate the sun and the moon, and learn about the heaven and the earth."

"Haha, okay, I'll just let it go." Jiang Xia was very happy.