Chapter 63 International Developments
Three days after the Lithium-Sulfur Battery project passed the inspection by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the peace was broken.
At 3:00 PM, Fang Lin suddenly appeared at the laboratory door. Her expression was as calm as ever, but Lin Mo noticed she wasn't in casual clothes today; she was wearing a formal uniform.
"Lin Mo, come with me for a moment," she said. "Something's come up."
Lin Mo put down the data in his hands and followed her out. As he passed Chen Xueming's workstation, Chen Xueming looked up with a questioning gaze. Lin Mo shook his head slightly, signaling it was nothing.
The two walked all the way to the small gray building of the Science and Technology Security Bureau and entered Fang Lin's office. After the door closed, Fang Lin took a document out of the safe and handed it to him.
"In the early hours of this morning, a certain country's think tank released a report," she said. "Take a look."
Lin Mo took the document and scanned it quickly.
The title of the report was straightforward: "The Impact of China's Battery Technology Breakthrough on the Global Lithium Resource Landscape and Countermeasures." It was signed by a well-known strategic think tank based in Washington, which held considerable influence in the industry.
The report had three core arguments:
First, based on an analysis of public information, China may have achieved a substantive breakthrough in the field of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, with energy densities far exceeding existing technology. If true, it will completely change the landscape of the global new energy vehicle and energy storage industries.
Second, although Lithium-Sulfur Batteries have high energy density, their demand for lithium resources is even greater. Once mass-produced, China's dependence on imported lithium resources will further intensify.
Third, it recommended that the US Government and its relevant allies immediately initiate strategic reserves of lithium resources while strengthening cooperation with major lithium-exporting countries such as Australia and Chile. If necessary, diplomatic and economic means should be used to restrict China's access to overseas lithium resources.
After Lin Mo finished reading, his brows furrowed.
"They reacted quickly," he said.
Fang Lin nodded. "After our data was made public, foreign entities have been analyzing it. Although this report was issued by a think tank, it definitely has government backing behind it. And look here—"
She pointed to a passage on the last page of the report:
"There are reports that a certain country's Department of Energy has begun secret contacts with Australian lithium mining giants to discuss long-term exclusive procurement agreements. At the same time, since Chile's left-wing government took office, a certain country has been stepping up lobbying efforts to influence the implementation direction of its lithium resource nationalization policy."
Lin Mo's frown deepened.
He naturally knew what this meant.
China is the world's largest consumer of lithium, but its lithium resource reserves only account for about 6% of the global total. Every year, it needs to import a large amount of spodumene and brine, with the main sources being Australia and Chile. If these two channels are blocked, the domestic lithium battery industry will face significant supply chain risks.
"They want to choke us at the source," Lin Mo said.
Fang Lin nodded. "Correct. The more successful the Lithium-Sulfur Battery is, the greater our demand for lithium will be. They don't need to steal technology or commit sabotage; as long as they control the resources, they can leave us with technology but no raw materials."
Lin Mo was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "What is the reaction from above?"
Fang Lin said, "It's already been noted. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is urgently assessing the feasibility of strategic lithium resource reserves, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also making diplomatic responses. But all of this takes time, and the results are uncertain."
She paused and looked at Lin Mo:
"I called you here to ask—do you have any ideas?"
Lin Mo was stunned for a moment. "Me?"
Fang Lin said, "Don't you have that..." She paused, seemingly weighing her words, "that ability that lets you think of things others can't?"
Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat.
What did Fang Lin know? Or was it just a guess?
He steadied himself and said, "Director Fang, I'm not a deity. What could I possibly do about something like this?"
Fang Lin stared at him for a few seconds, then said:
"Alright. We'll leave it at that for now. Go back and continue your research. I'll notify you if anything else comes up."
Lin Mo nodded and turned to leave.
As he reached the door, Fang Lin suddenly called out to him again:
"Lin Mo."
He looked back.
Fang Lin looked into his eyes and said slowly:
"If you really have a way, now is the time to use it."
Lin Mo was silent for a second, then said, "I understand."
Back at the laboratory, Chen Xueming immediately approached him. "Teacher Lin, what happened?"
Lin Mo thought for a moment and decided not to hide it from him. He briefly recounted what Fang Lin had said but didn't mention the details of the think tank report, only saying that foreign interests might be targeting lithium resources.
Chen Xueming's expression changed.
"Lithium resources..." he murmured. "How did I not think of that?"
He walked to the whiteboard and subconsciously began to scribble:
"The lithium usage of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries is more than double that of ternary lithium batteries. If promoted on a large scale, the demand for lithium will double. Domestic lithium resources are already scarce, mainly relying on imports. If they really control the exports from Australia and Chile..."
He stopped writing and turned to look at Lin Mo:
"Teacher Lin, this problem is harder to solve than the technical breakthrough itself."
Lin Mo nodded. "I know."
Li Xiao leaned in and asked cautiously, "Then what do we do?"
Lin Mo didn't answer. He walked to the window and looked at the distant Kunlun Mountains, his mind racing.
Lithium resources. Lithium Extraction from Seawater.
These two terms suddenly connected in his mind.
He remembered that technology in the system—when it was first activated, the system had shown a technology tree with Room-Temperature Superconductivity, Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, Lithium Extraction from Seawater, Controlled Nuclear Fusion... Lithium Extraction from Seawater was ranked after Lithium-Sulfur Batteries and before Nuclear Fusion.
He had always thought Lithium Extraction from Seawater was prepared for Nuclear Fusion—deuterium and tritium can be extracted from seawater, and lithium is also one of the fuels for Nuclear Fusion. But thinking about it now, the significance of Lithium Extraction from Seawater went far beyond that.
On Earth, lithium resources on land only exist in limited deposits. But in seawater, the total lithium content is as high as 230 billion tons, tens of thousands of times the land reserves. It's just that the concentration is too low, with only 0.17 grams of lithium per ton of seawater, and the extraction cost is ridiculously high, with no economically viable technology to date.
But what if... a breakthrough could be made?
If the cost of Lithium Extraction from Seawater could be reduced to a level comparable to extraction from ore, then China would no longer depend on any country's lithium resources. The seawater of the Pacific Ocean would be an inexhaustible lithium mine.
Lin Mo's heart rate quickened.
He turned to look at Chen Xueming:
"Dr. Chen, is there lithium in seawater?"
Chen Xueming was stunned for a moment. "Yes, the total content is quite high, but the concentration is too low, so extraction isn't cost-effective."
"What if someone could bring down the cost of Lithium Extraction from Seawater?"
Chen Xueming looked at him, his gaze becoming complex. "Teacher Lin, you're not thinking of..."
Lin Mo shook his head. "I'm not thinking of anything right now. I'm just asking you, if the cost comes down, would our lithium resource problem be solved?"
Chen Xueming thought for a moment and slowly nodded:
"Theoretically, yes. If Lithium Extraction from Seawater is feasible, lithium would no longer be a scarce resource. The seawater of the Pacific Ocean would be enough for all of humanity for tens of thousands of years."
He paused and added:
"But this 'if' is too big. The world has researched it for decades without a breakthrough. If the cost can't be brought down, it will only remain theoretical."
Lin Mo nodded and said nothing more.
But in his heart, he had already made a decision.
That evening, after everyone else had left, Lin Mo sat alone in his office and opened the system interface.
[Current research points: 1650]
The progress during this period had caused the research points to grow rapidly. The breakthrough in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, the recognition from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the team building—each had been converted into solid points.
Lin Mo typed a command into the input box:
Query technology tree: Prerequisites and research points required for [Lithium Extraction from Seawater] technology.
The system quickly popped up the results:
[Lithium Extraction from Seawater] Technical Path Analysis
Prerequisite technology requirements:
Highly selective adsorption materials (capable of specifically adsorbing lithium ions without interference from sodium, magnesium, or calcium)
Efficient desorption process (low energy consumption, recyclable)
Large-scale engineering plan (processing capacity ≥ 10,000 tons/day)
Current R&D status:
Global research progress: laboratory stage, cost approx. $5-10/kg Li (ore extraction cost approx. $0.5-1/kg)
Theoretically feasible directions: manganese-based adsorbents, Titanium-based adsorbents, Electrochemical intercalation method
research points required for unlocking:
Basic Theory Package: 800 points
Key Materials Package: 1200 points
Complete Technology Package: 2500 points
Currently available for exchange:
manganese-based adsorbent basic plan: 600 points
Titanium-based adsorbent basic plan: 600 points
Electrochemical intercalation method basic plan: 800 points
Lin Mo looked at those numbers and fell into deep thought.
1650 points. He could exchange for one or two basic plans, but the complete technology package required 2500 points, which wasn't enough yet.
But time might not wait for him. The think tank report was already out, and the next step could be actual actions. If he waited until foreign countries really blocked the lithium resources, it would be too late to think of a way.
He thought for a moment and chose one:
Exchange: manganese-based adsorbent basic plan (600 points)
The system quickly popped up:
[manganese-based adsorbent basic plan] unlocked.
Core principle: Selective adsorption of lithium ions by Lithium-ion sieve (λ-MnO₂).
Key parameters: Adsorption capacity ≥ 20 mg/g, selectivity coefficient ≥ 100.
Process route: Precursor preparation → Acid treatment for pore creation → Shaping and granulation.
R&D focus: Improving cycling stability, reducing manganese dissolution loss.
Lin Mo read through it carefully and had a good idea of what to do.
This plan wasn't a complete Lithium Extraction from Seawater technology, just a preparation method for an adsorbent. But with this, he could start experimental verification and gradually figure out a feasible process route.
He closed the system and walked to the window.
Outside, the night was deep. The lights of the distant base were scattered like stars, just as usual.
But he knew that from today on, what they would face would no longer be just technical problems.
There was also resource maneuvering, international containment, and an invisible battlefield.
But that was okay.
He looked at the few words he had just written:
Lithium Extraction from Seawater—Extracting lithium resources from seawater.
If this path worked out, Australian lithium mines or Chilean salt lakes would no longer be an issue.
The seawater of the Pacific Ocean would be enough for all of humanity for tens of thousands of years.
Early the next morning, Lin Mo found Fang Lin.
"Director Fang, I need a few things." He handed over a piece of paper. "Seawater samples from different sea areas, the more the better. Also, I need to consult all domestic and international literature on Lithium Extraction from Seawater."
Fang Lin took the paper, glanced at it, and her gaze became sharp:
"Lithium Extraction from Seawater? You want to..."
Lin Mo nodded. "If the lithium on land is blocked, we'll take it from the sea."
Fang Lin stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled:
"I knew you'd have a way."
She tucked away the paper. "I'll have the seawater samples brought to you within three days. As for the literature, I'll have the Intelligence department collect it for you. Just say the word if you need any support."
Lin Mo nodded and turned to leave.
"Lin Mo," Fang Lin called out to him.
He looked back.
Fang Lin looked at him and said seriously:
"If this direction really succeeds, it won't just be about Lithium-Sulfur Batteries. The energy security and resource security of the entire country will change because of it."
Lin Mo was silent for a second, then said:
"I know."
He pushed open the door and stepped into the sunlight.
In the distance, the Kunlun Mountains stood majestically. The snow on the peaks sparkled in the sun like countless scattered diamonds.
He looked at the mountains and thought silently:
The mountains do not move.
But the sea... the sea can be moved.