He felt more and more that Mist City Arts and Science University was like a treasure chest.
This private institution, without any state financing, was shockingly able to develop powerful scientific results like the graphene battery and graphene mechanical exfoliation preparation device just with the funding injected by Ding Yue’s Feiyue Group. Moreover, they are even studying the photolithography machine experimental project. It’s really remarkable.
"Dean Zhou, as you know, the experimental research of photolithography machines is very expensive, and we are just exploring."
Ding Yue said humbly with a smile.
In fact, the progress of the photolithography machine experimental project at Mist City Arts and Science University is proceeding quite smoothly. It’s more than just the exploratory stage Ding Yue mentioned, they have already begun to overcome difficulties and obstacles.
"As long as there are some significant results, you can apply for national policy support." Vice President Zhou Sicheng said with a smile.
"Dean Zhou is right." Ding Yue nodded.
"Dean Zhou, as for whether this graphene mechanical exfoliation preparation machine is real or not, if we just run it, we will know."
Academician Zhao Jianwang is still more concerned about this graphene mechanical exfoliation preparation machine.
Although the photolithography machine experimental project spoken about by Principal Ding and Vice President Zhou just now is indeed high-end advanced technology, Zhao Jianwang doesn’t believe that Mist City Arts and Science University alone can research any useful photolithography machine outcomes.
"Then, Principal Ding, shall we start?"
Upon hearing Academician Zhao speak, Vice President Zhou turned his attention back to the graphene mechanical exfoliation preparation machine.
Seeing this, Ding Yue responded calmly, nodding his head, then took a step back, making some room.
"Xiao You, Luo Peng, and Yihang, you guys are in charge of the operation."
Ding Yue asked the three of them to demonstrate the operation to Vice President Zhou and Academician Sun. Once they successfully operated the machine to exfoliate and prepare high-purity graphene, Vice President Zhou, Academician Sun, and Academician Zhao would fully believe in Mist City Arts and Science University.
They all currently held some degree of skepticism.
"Yes, Principal Ding."
Luo Peng and Yihang Tong stepped forward, taking charge of adjusting the machine’s parameters.
Then Ding Xiaoyou was in charge of the machine’s graphene exfoliation preparation process, which was, in fact, automated.
"We just need to prepare the raw material, which is graphite."
Ding Xiaoyou explained while operating.
Everyone present was a high-level individual. Although they might not understand the core technology of the graphene mechanical exfoliation preparation machine in-depth, they could understand these simpler explanations at a glance.
Plus, there were two experts in the field of graphene from the Xia Country Academy of Sciences, Academician Sun and Academician Zhao, present.
Layers of graphene compose graphite, a very common mineral resource on Earth.
Peeling off layer after layer of graphene from graphite is a very difficult task, let alone achieving a high degree of integrity in the graphene peeled off.
That’s why graphene is called a "future material," and the key reason it has not been widely applied in the market yet.
Many technology companies or institutions can peel off high-purity graphene, but the cost is too high. It’s only suitable for use in experiments related to other graphene products. Due to the high cost, it’s impossible to achieve large-scale commercialization.
The graphene market is massive, which explains why even the Xia Country Academy of Sciences has been alerted this time.
If the graphene mechanical exfoliation preparation machine from Mist City Arts and Science University could truly efficiently peel off high-purity graphene, then this gigantic market would be opened up directly.
"We carry out the peeling process on this graphite, which is entirely automated by the machine. We just adjust the parameters we want, and we can get single or multiple layers of exfoliated graphene."
Ding Xiaoyou concisely explained to Vice President Zhou and the others.
Then the graphene mechanical exfoliation preparation machine began to work. There was a display screen connected to the machine.
The screen showed specific parameters about the machine, the graphite and the exfoliated graphene.
"It’s very quick, almost instantaneous." Ding Xiaoyou said with a calm smile. Then she pressed the start button on the graphene mechanical exfoliation preparation machine.
Accompanied by the deep humming of the machine, at the other end, single-layer graphene was being exfoliated inside the preparation container.
The screen displayed the data of this piece of single-layer graphene, which was almost 100% complete.
Because there is no internationally accepted standard for exfoliated graphene, the displayed data is infinitely close to 100 percent, making it a perfect single layer of graphene.
"These are the parameters."
Ding Xiaoyou pointed at the data parameters on the screen.
The exfoliated graphene is a type of nanomaterial and is almost invisible to the naked eye.
In any case, Wen Ruohan, Huang Youjie, Xu Bin, and Director Lin Jiming were all in the dark.
Because they had not seen any graphene at all.
Ding Xiaoyou made some further adjustments, and the single-layer graphene in the preparation container was transferred onto a specially prepared exfoliation substrate.
At this moment, due to the unique light effects of nanoparticles, the single-layer graphene could finally be seen by the naked eye on the glass substrate, despite being less than 1 nanometer thick.
"I see it, I see it! Principal Ding, I see that layer on the glass; is that graphene?"
Upon seeing the layer of graphene on the glass, Wen Ruohan exclaimed excitedly.
At that moment, many eyes turned to Wen Ruohan.
The room fell into an awkward silence.
Wen Ruohan quickly lowered her head, not daring to make a sound, and immediately hid behind Principal Ding.
"My God, this is simply unbelievable."
Academician Sun was absolutely shocked upon confirming that this graphene mechanical exfoliation preparation machine could produce such high-quality graphene, shuddering involuntarily.
"They really did it..."
Academician Zhao Jianwang was also extremely excited.
"Old Sun, Old Zhao, how does it look?" Vice President Zhou Sicheng felt somewhat relieved at seeing the expressions on Academician Sun and Academician Zhao’s faces.
Academician Sun nodded.
Immediately afterwards, Academician Zhao also nodded, exclaiming, "It’s hard to believe they actually made it. They developed this physical mechanical exfoliation preparation machine. This means that large-scale production of highly pure graphene can now be achieved!"
Upon receiving confirmation from the two expert academicians, Academician Sun and Academician Zhao, Vice President Zhou Sicheng excitedly grasped Principal Ding Yue’s hand.
"Principal Ding, congratulations! Congratulations on your school developing such a cutting-edge technology and equipment!"
At this moment, Vice President Zhou Sicheng’s congratulations were heartfelt because this technology and equipment were developed by our own people, and most importantly, were world-leading!
The significance of this was so great that even Zhou Sicheng, deputy dean of Xia Country Academy of Sciences, couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with emotion.
At this point, everyone in the lab was excited, with the exception of Ding Yue.
The people from the Mist City Arts and Science University were naturally excited to receive praise and recognition from the Xia Country Academy of Sciences, and the people from the Xia Country Academy of Sciences were excited by the birth of this important technology and equipment.
Although Ding Yue had anticipated all this, there were so many people on the scene that he, being the president of Mist City Arts and Science University, had to appear excited too.
"Dean Zhou, Director Lin, I must thank you for coming to our Mist City Arts and Science University and recognizing our equipment and technological breakthroughs."
Ding Yue was also gripping Vice President Zhou Sicheng’s hand, his expression quite excited.
Previously, when the Mist City Arts and Science University announced that they had developed a graphene battery, not many people believed it.
Now, the Mist City Arts and Science University had professional certification from the Xia Country Academy of Sciences and the National Patent Office, which immediately boosted their credibility!