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This is... a new form of porous silicon nanoparticles!

Ning Chen keenly discovered that the pore structure shown in this TEM image was different from the pore structure of the previous product.

And this is another form of porous silicon nanoparticles that Ning Chen hypothesized a few days ago!

In excitement, Ning Chen looked up the experimental data of these products.

It turns out that when the amount of boric acid added is greatly increased, this new pore structure will be generated. It seems that the idea of ​​using boron as a pure additive from the beginning is an undesirable mindset.

In this experiment, the amount of boric acid added was even more than that of nano-silicon. Ning Chen would never have dared to think of such an addition ratio before.

After completing the TEM measurement of all the samples in his hand, Ning Chen carefully analyzed the rules.

After analysis, Ning Chen found that near a certain larger boric acid addition ratio, the products produced all had similar new pore structures.

This further confirmed Ning Chen's hypothesis that the occurrence of this phenomenon was probably not accidental.

Returning to the laboratory with excitement, Ning Chen couldn't afford to rest and immediately prepared for a new round of experiments.

This time, Ning Chen re-adjusted the addition ratio of boric acid and nano-silicon, controlling the quality of the two between 7:5 and 9:5, and divided the mass ratio more accurately.

In a new round of measurements, Ning Chen discovered that the generation of this new type of porous silicon nanoparticle product was not an accidental phenomenon.

When the mass ratio of boric acid and nano-silicon is about 8:5, the generated product has a larger pore structure. And for products with this structure, the output rate of standard samples is significantly improved.

After just one stage of improvement, the standard sample generation rate increased from 30% to 50%. Ning Chen was very satisfied with this improvement.

…

On this day, Xu Zhou came to Ning Chen's laboratory to learn about the latest progress of Ning Chen's experiments.

How's it going, Ning Chen, is there any progress in the recent experiments?

Ning Chen found some recently made TME images and various other experimental data, and told Xu Zhou about it.

Mr. Xu, the recent experiment has indeed made a big breakthrough. After I changed the addition ratio of boric acid and nano-silicon, a new porous silicon nanoparticle structure was generated...

Listening to Ning Chen's explanation, Xu Zhou was also very surprised.

It's really incredible to control the amount of boric acid added to such a high level... and the formation of this new type of product!

For a while, Xu Zhou didn't think clearly about the theoretical basis of the entire experiment, but these experimental phenomena undoubtedly showed that Ning Chen's idea was completely correct.

Ning Chen, can you tell me how you came up with the idea of ​​synthesizing this new type of product in this way?

This time, Ning Chen did not use random excuses to explain the situation, but explained the reasons theoretically.

Teacher Xu, we have discussed before that one of the important core steps in this experiment is to convert intrinsic silicon nanoparticles into p-type nanoparticles.

Yes, we also discussed this issue at the time. Therefore, only when the proportion of boron added is appropriate, this special hole-like structure can be generated.

Teacher Xu, later I re-established a new one-dimensional diffusion model. This is the formula of this model——

Ning Chen wrote a partial differential equation on paper and explained its principles to Xu Zhou.

Through this one-dimensional diffusion model, we can find the relationship between the total concentration of boron, the surface concentration of boron atoms, and the diffusion coefficient. After calculations, I found that when the total concentration of boron is at a higher level , the entire model is still possible to be established...

Because this involved some high-level mathematical knowledge, Xu Zhou did not understand the specific principles.

But Xu Zhou also knew some mathematics after all. After careful discussion with Ning Chen, he finally understood Ning Chen's thoughts.

It turns out that by constructing a one-dimensional diffusion model in this way, a new porous silicon nanoparticle structure can indeed be constructed. Unexpectedly, the most important part of it is actually a mathematical formula.

At this time, Xu Zhou suddenly understood why Ning Chen continued to study materials science despite his outstanding mathematical ability.

A good foundation in mathematics gave Ning Chen a higher ceiling in various other science and engineering subjects.

In many cases, what hinders the upward development of materials science may not be the knowledge of pure materials science, but the basic knowledge of other sciences.

Well, Teacher Xu, you can indeed say that. Otherwise, I might not even consider adding so much boric acid.

After understanding the core theory, Xu Zhou immediately understood the remaining principles on his own.

According to this theory, adding a higher concentration of boric acid to p-type nanosilicon can obtain a lower Fermi level and reduce the energy barrier for electrons to transfer from silicon to silver, which is beneficial to the etching process. Producing larger pore-like structures...

As he talked, Xu Zhou felt more and more that Ning Chen was really a genius in materials science.

Ning Chen did not give up on materials science, which was indeed a very wise choice.

Mr. Xu, next I want to continue to accurately add the proportion of boric acid and strive to maximize the production rate of standard products. In addition, I also plan to start research on the application of this material in lithium battery anodes.

Well, now our experimental direction is very clear. Judging from the current measured data on this material, it does have the potential to be used as anode material for lithium batteries.

Xu Zhou felt more and more that Ning Chen's current research had high academic value.

If the follow-up research goes well, Ning Chen might actually be able to publish a Nature article.

…

Every day that followed, Ning Chen continued to spend time in the laboratory.

Ning Chen didn't think there was anything monotonous about this kind of life. Instead, he enjoyed himself and enjoyed the fun of experimentation and research.

Although in the process of research, failures will account for most of them, these failures will help Ning Chen finally reach the other side of success.

After continuous experiments and improvements, Ning Chen has successfully increased the output rate of standard products to 90%. There has also been some progress in research on this material as an anode material for lithium batteries.

At noon that day, Ning Chen received a call from his mother, Wang Yanping.

Chenchen, how are you doing lately?

It's good. I've been in the lab lately. How are you and dad?

We're fine too, don't worry. We want to go to your school this weekend to have a look, so we won't delay your experiments, right?

After hearing Wang Yanping's words, Ning Chen also realized that he hadn't been home for a long time.

Ning Chen's home is not far from Shengzhou. In his previous life, Ning Chen might have gone home once a month, and no matter how low the frequency was, it would never have been more than three months.

But now, because he was busy doing experiments at school, Ning Chen didn't go home throughout the summer vacation.

Ning Chen knew that his parents didn't want to come to see the school, but wanted to come and see him.

No delay, my time is more flexible now, you and Dad can come over without worries.

Okay, then I'll go to the train station to look at the tickets in the evening. If there's a suitable one, I'll buy it directly. If there's no suitable ticket, you can just take a bus there.

Ning Chen was about to buy a ticket directly for Wang Yanping, but suddenly realized that it was 2010.

At this time, 12306 had just been opened and was in the trial operation stage. Ticket information could only be checked online, but tickets could not be purchased directly online.

Okay, tell me after you buy the tickets, and I will pick you up at the station then.

After hanging up the phone, Ning Chen was looking forward to the arrival of his parents.

When my parents come over, I can let them live in the newly bought house. Ning Chen thought.

On Saturday, Ning Chen arrived at the train station in advance and waited for the arrival of Ning Qiang and Wang Yanping at the exit.

Li Li arrived at Shengzhou Station on time. A few minutes later, Ning Chen saw Ning Qiang and Wang Yanping walking down the platform stairs.

Both of them were carrying things, and it seemed that they were all for Ning Chen.

Ning Chen waved to them, and the two of them saw Ning Chen outside the station exit.

Dad, Mom, why do you bring so many things?

Chenchen, these are the dumplings stuffed with pickled cabbage that your mother made for you. They were just steamed this morning. These are the Nanguo pears that just came in. They are big, sweet, and especially delicious.

When Wang Yanping saw this, she also said:

You usually don't get much good food at school, so this brings you something to improve the food.