Chapter 318: Nature Or Science?

Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

“Yes,” Connie said quickly; he was shocked by Lu Zhou’s enthusiasm. He quickly placed the sample of the positive electrode material inside a piece of glassware. A small amount of electrolysis was extracted from the inside with a pipette, then the liquid was collected and stored in a test tube.

On the other hand, Lu Zhou quickly walked to the corner of the laboratory and took out another instrument— the Fourier transform infrared spectrometer.

An infrared spectrum was generated by the absorption of specific wavelengths of infrared light when the compound molecules vibrated. The wavelength of the infrared light absorbed by the chemical bond vibration depended on the chemical bond dynamic constants and the atomic weight of the atoms. Therefore, each compound had its own unique infrared spectroscopy. Infrared spectroscopy was also known as “molecule fingerprints”.

Using a computer, Lu Zhou quickly made an analysis of the composition of the electrolyte using the infrared spectrum absorption peak. He determined the mass of all the sulfur-containing functional groups and related compounds in the electrolyte.

The results were quite gratifying.

There was indeed polysulfide compounds in the solution, but the content was quite low. Although the material had flaws, it was still acceptable for industrial application.

What surprised Lu Zhou was not only the analysis of the electrolyte but also the observation under the scanning electron microscope.

At the nanometer scale, the porous structure of sample No. 23 allowed the electrolyte to enter the interior of the composite, thus increasing ionic conductivity. Also, the absorption capacity of the surface could effectively prevent the diffusion of polysulfide compounds into the electrolyte, thereby effectively suppressing the shuttle effect.

This proved that Lu Zhou’s idea on the hollow carbon spheres had its potential.

Of course, this wasn’t the main part.

The main part was that the hollow carbon spheres with a surface area of up to 3025m2g-1 and a diameter of 69nm perfectly met the predictions of Lu Zhou!

His predictions were that a hollow carbon sphere with the specific surface area in the range of [2326m2g-1, 3762m2g-1] and a diameter of [60nm-70nm] could effectively inhibit the diffusion of polysulfide compounds in the electrolyte!

“Unbelievable… We did it, we did it!” Connie waved his fist around in excitement. If it wasn’t for the sensitive instrument around him, he would scream out loud.

Lu Zhou smiled in relief. The knot in his heart had unraveled.

However, he was still a long way from solving the shuttle effect.

But this was undoubtedly a good start.

“Don’t get too excited, we didn’t completely solve the shuttle effect,” Lu Zhou said. He then paused for a second before continuing, “After a maximum of 500 revolutions, the rate of loss of the positive electrode material will increase, and the capacity will decay. This technology needs to be improved.”

Connie said, “Bro, you’re too hard on yourself. Not every research result can be made into a product!”

Connie was right.

Even though there was yet to be any application, this achievement was already outstanding.

Any professor would be ecstatic at this result.

However, Lu Zhou was more low-key.

He said, “Although this result needs improvement, it should be enough for an SCI thesis.”

Connie asked, “What do you plan on calling this new material?”

Lu Zhou thought and said, “We can call it HCS-1.”

HCS was the acronym for hollow carbon sphere. Because it was only a prototype, it was numbered -1.

Connie said, “HCS-1? Forgive me but this name is not creative at all. It doesn’t convey the amazing effect. Can’t you come up with a better name?”

What’s the point of naming a broken material that has no application.

I’m not the one that came up with hollow carbon spheres.

Lu Zhou said, “Do you have any better ideas?”

Connie said, “How about LZ-1? It’s an acronym of your name.”

Lu Zhou: “…”

What is this?

Lu Zhou thought that Connie had some genius idea, but that clearly wasn’t the case.

Finally, Lu Zhou dismissed Connie’s suggestion and went with HCS-1.

It would feel tacky if he had named his materials LZ-1, LZ-2…

HCS-1 was a lot better.

…

Although the industrial applications of HCS-1 were limited, it could still be valuable. If a small company was interested in buying the research, then it would be worth a lot of money.

This time, Lu Zhou wouldn’t have to take a year to write his thesis.

Lu Zhou was too careful when dealing with the PDMS materials that it took him over a year. Furthermore, he had no experience.

After consulting his manager, White Sheridan, he learned that although it clearly stated that the content of the patent application could not be disclosed before the “patent filing date”, it was fine as long as “disclose date” was after the “patent filing date”.

Which was to say that once he received his patent number, he could submit the thesis.

Lu Zhou sat in his office at the Institute for Advanced Study and wrote a letter of authorization for Star Sky Technology to handle the patent.

Lu Zhou signed his name on the document and sealed the envelope.

Suddenly, Hardy came in with a towel around his neck.

This Brazilian guy loved soccer and was a member of the Princeton soccer club. Although soccer wasn’t as famous as baseball or American football, there were still many people playing it.

Lu Zhou had previously played with the Princeton soccer club. However, he realized that slow movement sports were more suitable for him, so he stopped going for soccer.

Hardy was about to sit down and rest, but when he saw Lu Zhou writing a letter, he was curious and walked over.

“Professor, what are you writing?”

Lu Zhou didn’t answer and handed him the letter.

“Perfect, go to the mailroom for me and deliver this letter.”

Hardy took the letter from Lu Zhou and said, “I knew I shouldn’t have come here…”

Lu Zhou: “If you didn’t ask me what it was about, I wouldn’t have asked you.”

Hardy: “…”

Hardy walked outside the office with the envelope, and Lu Zhou began writing his thesis.

Star Sky Technology had already established a patent department, so they could easily handle the patent for Lu Zhou.

There were two theses that needed to be written.

One thesis was about the effect of surface area and pore size of the hollow carbon spheres on the diffusion rate of polysulfide compounds. Another thesis was about the HCS-1 hollow carbon sphere material.

The former was purely theoretical. It would include a lot of graphs, analysis, and proofs. It would take around thirty pages to complete. The latter was more application-based, and it could be completed within fifteen pages.

Speaking of which, where should I submit the thesis?

Lu Zhou placed his hands on the keyboard and began to think.

Nature or Science?

I really don’t know…

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