Chapter 162: I'm a bit new to this, so I wasted some time
The optoelectronic laboratory is much larger than theirs and can carry out preparation techniques such as chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, pulsed laser deposition, as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and various electron microscopes.
They were all equipment that Qingzhou was familiar with.
"Junior brother, BiO and BO have arrived." Gong Yunfei had already brought a material box from the side.
Wang Wei pointed to the white instrument in front of him and asked with a smile, "Have you ever come into contact with this equipment before?"
Xu Qingzhou said: "I have read the process in a book."
Although he can operate it with his eyes closed, he is just an undergraduate student. It would be ridiculous for him to say that he is very good at it.
When it comes to experiments, Wang Wei's expression becomes serious. He pushes up his glasses and says, "Then I'll do it. You watch from the side."
Xu Qingzhou knew that Senior Brother Wang Wei was worried that he would damage the equipment.
BiO and BO, although not as highly corrosive as the raw material battery solution used by Wang Wei and his colleagues, if the ratio is wrong, it will cause a certain instrument to be blocked.
The equipment here is quite expensive, not to mention that Senior Brother Wang Wei will start the project experiment in a few days. It will be troublesome if something goes wrong.
He smiled and nodded. He had a PhD student who didn't need to be paid helping him prepare crystals, so he could be lazy.
Gong Yunfei said beside him: "Don't mind, to Senior Brother Wang, these devices are like his wife, more important than his own life."
The time required to manufacture large crystals is calculated in weeks or even months. Fortunately, the crystals used by Xu Qingzhou in this experiment are very small, but the process is still very troublesome.
Wang Wei put on his goggles and said, "Junior brother, here are the plans and ingredient list."
Xu Qingzhou handed over the document.
Wang Wei glanced at the ratio table and praised: "Wow, Junior Brother, it's very professionally written."
After saying that, he didn't waste any more time and started to operate.
The raw materials were accurately weighed and mixed according to the stoichiometric ratio of BiO:BO=1:3.
After weighing, the evenly mixed raw materials are placed in a clean crucible for melting.
During melting, the top seeding method is a crystal growth method that allows the melt to gradually crystallize on the seed crystal and grow into a single crystal by introducing a seed crystal and controlling conditions such as the temperature, concentration and flow of the melt.
During this period, parameters such as temperature gradient, melt flow rate and pulling rate must be controlled.
Xu Qingzhou had written these steps very clearly in the plan he had just given to Wang Wei. While Wang Wei was preparing, he was not in a hurry and went to the lounge next door to read a book.
Two hours later, Wang Wei walked in.
Xu Qingzhou looked up and felt that Senior Brother Wang was quite reliable. "Senior Brother Wang, has the crystal taken shape?"
Although the laboratory has advantages in equipment and can greatly reduce the time for preparing crystals, it still takes at least a dozen hours from solution to crystallization and then to final cutting processing unless there are unexpected problems.
Wang Wei's expression froze, and he coughed dryly, and said a little embarrassedly: "There was a small accident. During the growth process of the crystal, it suddenly cracked."
"I just came here to drink some water. Don't worry, I can definitely make the crystals you need today!"
Xu Qingzhou smiled helplessly and said, "Brother, why don't I do it?"
He could understand this competitive mentality, but the problem was that he was in a hurry. If he failed again, he would have to wait for several hours, wasting time.
"Do you do it yourself?"
"Ah."
"But this equipment." Wang Wei was still worried. Although Junior Brother Xu had a terrifying talent, experiments and practical operations were different. Like him, who often spent time in the laboratory and had complete and detailed ingredient lists and plans in his hands, he failed.
Xu Qingzhou smiled and said, "I just watched you operate and wrote it down." Wang Wei paused, but nodded reluctantly, but still couldn't help but remind him, "Then I'll watch from the side. If you have any questions, be sure to ask me in advance."
Xu Qingzhou nodded in agreement.
Xu Qingzhou changed into a spare white coat, put on goggles, and prepared to operate it himself.
Gong Yunfei came over at this time to join in the fun, or rather, he actually wanted to "give some guidance" to this junior fellow student. After all, he was his senior, and although he might not be good at theoretical aspects in terms of talent, he should be better in practical operations.
I'm so touched. Finally, there's a place where I can show my senior brother's role!
What is the most common question that newcomers to the laboratory ask?
Oh, by the way, due to the large difference in density between BiO and BO, unevenness is likely to occur during the mixing process, affecting the uniformity of the melt and the growth of the crystal.
Hey, you're good, you didn't forget to screen it first.
That’s right, in front of the test bench, Xu Qingzhou took out the two oxides, BiO and BO, and first sifted them before starting to mix them.
Wang Wei stared closely at Xu Qingzhou's every step so that he could remind him in time if he made a mistake.
20 minutes passed.
Wang Wei had a complicated expression, and Xu Qingzhou's movements were skillful and orderly, with each step being quite precise. It was the kind of video that could be used as a teaching video.
On the side, Gong Yunfei was also stunned, with only two words in his mind: professional.
On this side, Xu Qingzhou had quickly finished weighing the ingredients and was ready to smelt them. When he looked up, he saw Wang Wei and Gong Yunfei staring at him.
He smiled shyly and said, "Sorry, I'm a little rusty and wasted some time."
The corners of Wang Wei's mouth twitched. His speed was almost twice as fast as his, and more accurate.
Fast and accurate, is this what you call a new hand?
Gong Yunfei also had mixed feelings, feeling both emotional and shocked. Wasn't this junior brother a little too outrageous? !
At noon, Wang Wei and his friends went to eat, and Xu Qingzhou stayed here to guard.
Before leaving, Wang Wei told him in detail about the precautions in the laboratory.
The most important experimental rule is specially emphasized - ensuring your own safety.
After all, although these instruments and equipment are very expensive, people come first after all. Once an accident such as a fire occurs, the first thing to do is to ensure the safety of people, and then the instruments.
An hour later, Xu Qingzhou adjusted the temperature field of the crystal growth furnace to 750℃ and turned on the agitator to ensure uniform mixing of the raw materials and the discharge of bubbles.
When the raw materials began to solidify, he introduced the seed crystals into the growth furnace.
At this point, the entire preparation experiment is considered to be half successful. What follows is a long wait, which will take about 12 hours.
After finishing all this, Xu Qingzhou took off his goggles and sat on a chair to read the book on battery materials that Senior Brother Wang Wei had left for him to pass the time.
Time passed by minute by minute, and at 1:, Ren Xiaoling came to take over her shift.
The rest of the work is relatively simple. Just stand by and if the instrument sounds an alarm or a crack appears on the crystal, press the stop button to stop the experiment.
This also means that the experiment has failed and has to start over.
Of course, Xu Qingzhou was confident that this situation would not occur.
(Today there are only two chapters)
(End of this chapter)
