Chapter 56 Simultaneous Progress

The news that the E-Li-1 formula had successfully surpassed 600 cycles was like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, creating ripples throughout the laboratory.

Over the next two days, everyone pushed forward frantically in this direction. Zhang Zhe began preparing the second batch of modified separators, fine-tuning pore sizes and surface functional groups based on the characteristics of the E-Li-1 formula; Li Xiao was busy building a database, categorizing and organizing all test data to find correlations between performance and parameters; Chen Xueming plunged into the literature, seeking inspiration for further optimization.

Only Lin Mo remained calm on the surface, though his mind was racing.

On the evening of the third day, after everyone had left, he sat alone in his office and opened the system interface.

【Current research points: 1020】

The progress during this period had led to a steady increase in research points. In particular, the breakthrough with the E-Li-1 formula had granted him 150 points in one go.

Lin Mo typed a command into the input box:

Simulation Evaluation: Potential cycle life and industrialization cost of the E-Li-1 electrolyte formula proposed by Chen Xueming.

The system was silent for three seconds before the results popped up:

【Simulation in progress...】

【E-Li-1 Formula Analysis】

Core Additives: LiTFSI (Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide) + LiNO₃ + New Fluoro-ether Compound (FDEC)

Mechanism: Fluoro-ether inhibits polysulfide dissolution; LiNO₃ stabilizes the negative electrode interface.

Theoretical Cycle Life Upper Limit: 1200-1500 cycles (requires matching with optimal separator).

Current Measurement: 612 cycles (matched with PVDF-HFP modified membrane).

【Cost Evaluation】

LiTFSI: 4,200 RMB/kg (Imported)

LiNO₃: 180 RMB/kg (Domestic)

FDEC: Not yet industrially produced; laboratory synthesis cost is approximately 150,000 RMB/kg.

Total Electrolyte Cost: Estimated 80,000-100,000 RMB/kg (over 200 times that of traditional electrolytes).

【Conclusion】

Technically feasible, but poor economic viability. FDEC relies on laboratory synthesis and cannot be scaled up. If the cost issue cannot be resolved, this formula can only remain in the laboratory stage and lacks industrialization value.

Lin Mo stared at that "over 200 times," and his brow furrowed.

He had long anticipated cost issues. New additives, especially those complex fluoro-ethers, are difficult to synthesize, have low yields, and are naturally exorbitantly priced. They are fine for laboratory use, but if scaled up to tons, the raw material costs alone would crush the entire project.

But the effect of E-Li-1 was indeed good. 612 cycles was just the beginning; after optimization, reaching over 1000 cycles was not impossible. It would be a pity to give up on such excellent performance.

He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and quickly ran through various possibilities in his mind.

There are only a few ways to reduce costs: first, find cheaper alternatives; second, improve synthesis processes to lower the cost of FDEC; third, accept high costs for the high-end market—but the target market for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries is electric vehicles and energy storage, both of which are cost-sensitive areas, so that path is a dead end.

Then the only way is to find a solution at the source.

Lin Mo opened his eyes and entered another command into the system:

Query low-cost alternative solutions for Lithium-Sulfur Battery electrolytes.

The system quickly returned the results:

【Low-Cost Electrolyte Directions】

Ether Solvent Optimization: Deep optimization of the DOL/DME system, combined with low-cost additives (such as Li₂S₅, P₂S₅).

Solid-State Electrolyte Composite: Partially replace liquid electrolytes to reduce the usage of expensive additives.

New Lithium Salts: Explore LiFSI as a replacement for LiTFSI (costs can be reduced by 60%).

Separator Functionalization: Let the separator take on part of the role of inhibiting polysulfides, reducing the requirements for the electrolyte.

Lin Mo looked through them one by one, and a plan formed in his mind.

Wasn't the fourth point exactly the direction Zhang Zhe was working on? If the functionality of the separator could be further strengthened, the requirements for the electrolyte would decrease, and costs would naturally drop.

The third point, replacing LiTFSI with LiFSI, is worth a try. Domestic companies are already producing LiFSI, and the price is much cheaper than imported LiTFSI.

The first point, deep optimization of traditional systems, is Chen Xueming's specialty; he can continue with that.

The second point, solid-state electrolyte composites... this direction is a bit ahead of its time, but it can be kept as a reserve.

His thoughts gradually became clear.

He closed the system and looked out the window. The night at the base was deep, with only a few distant streetlights shining like stars scattered across the Gobi Desert.

Tomorrow, I need to have a meeting with everyone.

At nine o'clock the next morning, everyone in the laboratory gathered together.

Lin Mo stood in front of the whiteboard, first reviewing the test data of the E-Li-1 formula and affirming Chen Xueming's work. Then, he changed the subject:

"However, there is one problem we must face—cost."

He wrote several numbers on the whiteboard:

LiTFSI: 4,200 RMB/kg

FDEC: 150,000 RMB/kg (laboratory grade)

E-Li-1 Electrolyte Cost: 80,000-100,000 RMB/kg

Li Xiao gasped, "That expensive?"

Zhang Zhe frowned. "The FDEC we use is laboratory-synthesized, so it's naturally expensive. If it could be industrially produced, the cost could drop significantly."

Chen Xueming didn't speak, but his expression was somewhat solemn.

Lin Mo looked at him. "Dr. Chen, how likely do you think industrialization of FDEC is?"

Chen Xueming was silent for a few seconds before answering honestly, "It will be very difficult within five years. The synthesis route is complex, the yield is low, it requires multiple reaction steps, and the catalysts used are also expensive. Unless there is a major process breakthrough, the cost won't come down in the short term."

Lin Mo nodded. "Therefore, we cannot pin all our hopes on E-Li-1."

He drew two lines on the whiteboard, one extending upwards and the other parallel forward.

"Advancing on two fronts."

He pointed to the first line. "Dr. Chen, you continue optimizing the E-Li-1 formula with the goal of maximizing performance. Don't worry about the cost; just get the cycle life to over 1000 cycles. This formula can serve as our technical reserve; even if it can't be used for now, it can prove our technical strength."

Chen Xueming was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "Understood."

Lin Mo pointed to the second line. "At the same time, we need to explore a low-cost route. Teacher Zhang, your separator modification needs to go deeper. Strive to make the separator take on more functions to reduce the requirements for the electrolyte."

Zhang Zhe nodded. "I can do that. I'm currently testing a new ceramic coating that can increase the polysulfide rejection rate by another 15%."

"Good." Lin Mo turned to Li Xiao. "Li Xiao, you are responsible for tracking the progress of low-cost additives both domestically and abroad, especially alternatives like LiFSI. Once there's something cost-effective, report back immediately."

Li Xiao raised her hand. "Got it!"

Finally, Lin Mo looked at everyone:

"My idea is—walking on two legs. The high-end route ensures technical height, while the low-cost route ensures industrialization. The two lines will support and provide feedback to each other. If any new mechanism is discovered in Dr. Chen's high-end formula, it can feed back into the low-cost route; Teacher Zhang's breakthrough in separators can also help Dr. Chen reduce reliance on expensive additives."

He paused:

"This way, we won't give up on the high-performance direction due to cost issues, nor will we lose touch with reality by chasing high performance. What does everyone think?"

After a few seconds of silence, Chen Xueming was the first to speak:

"I agree."

He looked at Lin Mo with a complex mix of emotions—appreciation, and a faint hint of respect.

"In the past, I either stuck stubbornly to one direction or bumped around aimlessly. I never thought it could be like this—two lines running in parallel, supporting each other." He paused. "Teacher Lin, your thinking goes further than mine."

Lin Mo smiled. "It's not that I'm smart; it's that we have many people. One person can only see one path, but a group can see several."

He turned to Zhang Zhe and Li Xiao. "What about you?"

Zhang Zhe nodded. "No problem here."

Li Xiao was even more excited. "Advancing on two fronts! That sounds exciting! I can build databases for both lines and compare them at any time!"

Zhao Gang stood at the door and chimed in for once, "Then I'll be responsible for ensuring the material supply and safety for both lines."

Lin Mo laughed. "Good, then it's settled."

After the meeting, Chen Xueming didn't immediately return to his workstation but stood in front of the whiteboard, staring at those two lines for a long time.

Lin Mo walked over. "What are you thinking about?"

Chen Xueming snapped out of it and shook his head. "Nothing. Just... a bit emotional."

"Emotional about what?"

Chen Xueming thought for a moment and said, "In the places I used to work, the laboratory was also divided into directions. But that division meant everyone worked on their own, and no one cared about anyone else. You do your electrolyte, I do my separator, and in the end, we try to put them together. If they don't fit, we just say the other person is incompetent."

He looked at Lin Mo:

"Your way of dividing it makes the two lines help and leverage each other. I feel... this is what a real team is."

Lin Mo patted his shoulder. "Take it slow; we're still in the adjustment period. It will get better in the future."

Chen Xueming nodded and turned back to his workstation.

He opened his computer, pulled up the data for E-Li-1, and began thinking about the next optimization direction.

Lin Mo was right; don't worry about the cost for now, just get the performance up. Once the performance is high enough, there will naturally be ways to reduce costs—either through process breakthroughs, finding alternatives, or opening up the high-end market.

The key is to raise the ceiling first.

He became more and more absorbed as he thought, quickly writing in his notebook:

Next optimization directions:

FDEC concentration gradient optimization—can it be lowered slightly?

Synergistic effect with LiNO₃—ratio adjustment

Matching with Teacher Zhang's new separator—need to wait for the second batch of samples

...

Halfway through writing, his phone vibrated.

It was a message from Li Xiao:

"Dr. Chen, I just caught a report on domestic LiFSI. A company in Shandong has started mass production, and the price is only 1,500 RMB/kg! It's much cheaper than LiTFSI! See if this is useful?"

A link followed.

Chen Xueming clicked the link and scanned it quickly, his eyes brightening.

LiFSI has a similar structure to LiTFSI, but the synthesis route is simpler, so the cost can indeed be reduced. If LiFSI could partially replace LiTFSI, the electrolyte cost could drop significantly.

He immediately replied to Li Xiao:

"Very useful! Help me find the contact information for this company; I want their detailed parameters!"

Li Xiao replied instantly:

"On it! Right away!"

Chen Xueming put down his phone, a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

This is what a team is.

One person can only see their own small patch of land, but a group can see a much wider world.

In the afternoon, Zhang Zhe brought the second batch of separator samples to Chen Xueming.

"New ones. The ceramic coating thickness has been optimized, and the pore size distribution has been adjusted. Take a look."

Chen Xueming took them and examined them closely. The surface of the separator was evenly covered with a light gray ceramic coating, and it felt slightly firmer than before.

"What about the data?"

Zhang Zhe handed over a piece of paper. "Air permeability, ionic conductivity, and thermal stability are all on there. Compatibility with the E-Li-1 formula hasn't been tested yet."

Chen Xueming nodded. "I'll test it tonight."

Zhang Zhe was silent for two seconds before suddenly asking, "Dr. Chen, what do you think of the 'advancing on two fronts' that Teacher Lin mentioned?"

Chen Xueming thought for a moment and said, "I think it's right."

"Why?"

"Because scientific research was never a one-way street," Chen Xueming said. "I used to always want to find the most 'correct' path and follow it to the end. When I hit a wall, I'd doubt myself and everything else. Now I realize there's no need to find the single most correct path; walking several paths together and verifying them against each other is actually more stable."

Zhang Zhe looked at him, a rare smile appearing on his face:

"Me too."

The two looked at each other and both laughed.

At nine o'clock in the evening, Lin Mo was still in his office.

He reopened the system and looked at the research points added today—Chen Xueming starting the optimization of E-Li-1, Zhang Zhe's new separator, and the LiFSI information found by Li Xiao; every bit of progress had been converted into research points.

Current research points: 1180

He thought for a moment and entered a command into the system:

Query low-cost electrolyte directions for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Feasibility of LiFSI-based formulas.

The system quickly returned the results:

【LiFSI-based Electrolyte Analysis】

Cost: Approximately 1,500 RMB/kg (Domestic)

Performance Potential: Comparable to LiTFSI, but requires optimization of the solvent system.

Matching Separator: Good compatibility with ceramic-coated separators.

Expected Cycle Life: 800-1000 cycles (requires experimental verification).

Lin Mo looked at that "800-1000 cycles" and had a good idea of what to expect.

If the LiFSI Li Xiao found is truly viable, combined with Zhang Zhe's ceramic separator, the low-cost route might soon catch up to the tail of the high-performance route.

Advancing on two fronts, supporting each other, and finally merging toward the same goal—an industrializable high-performance Lithium-Sulfur Battery.

He closed the system, stood up, and walked to the window.

Outside, the lights of the base were like scattered stars. A few windows in the laboratory building were still lit—Chen Xueming was definitely still there, Zhang Zhe probably hadn't left either, and Li Xiao was likely staying up late writing code again.

Looking at those lights, a sense of reassurance welled up in his heart.

These people were all here.

All of them were working desperately toward the same goal.

He took a deep breath and turned to walk out of his office.

The corridor was very quiet, with only the faint hum of instruments coming from the laboratory. He pushed open the door, and sure enough, all three of them were there.

Chen Xueming was staring at the data at the test bench, Zhang Zhe was recording next to him, and Li Xiao was tapping away at her keyboard.

"Not leaving yet?" Lin Mo asked.

Without turning his head, Chen Xueming replied, "Soon. I'll leave as soon as this batch of data is measured."

Li Xiao turned around. "Teacher Lin, I found the detailed parameters for that LiFSI company and sent them to your email!"

Lin Mo nodded. "Thanks for your hard work."

He walked over to Chen Xueming and glanced at the screen. The curve was steady, the cycle count had already reached over 300, and the capacity retention rate was still above 95%.

"Is this from the new separator?" he asked.

Chen Xueming nodded. "Teacher Zhang's ceramic membrane paired with E-Li-1; compatibility looks very good so far."

Lin Mo looked at the curve, was silent for a few seconds, and then said:

"Dr. Chen, do you have the confidence to push E-Li-1 to 1000 cycles?"

Chen Xueming looked up at him, his gaze firm:

"I do."

Lin Mo smiled:

"Then let's do it."