Chapter 30: Metal-Air Batteries

Before he arrived, the battery technology experts at the Sentry Tower Research Institute were already deep in discussion.

"I still maintain that metal-air batteries are not feasible at this stage," one expert argued. "We haven't resolved a single one of the issues regarding discharge performance, energy efficiency, catalysts, or air electrode design."

"We can build a prototype in the laboratory, but it would take at least a decade to reach a stage of mature application!"

"It would be better to focus our efforts on solid-state battery technology for now!"

The others shared this sentiment. It wasn't a lack of courage or competence, but the crushing pressure of time; no one could guarantee a breakthrough in the short term. If the Sentry Tower Research Institute’s projects were stalled from the very beginning, wouldn't they become the laughingstock of the scientific community?

Yu Xing pondered for a moment before saying, "Comrade He Xingzhou claims to have relevant materials. If it’s viable, we should pursue the metal-air battery development route."

"That’s hard to say," another expert countered. "We are already at the absolute frontier of this field. So far, I haven't heard of any breakthroughs from domestic or international peers. The top battery researchers in China are essentially all in this room; where could there possibly be any hidden technical reserves?"

Silence fell over the room. Just then, He Xingzhou knocked and walked into the meeting room. He smiled, "Everyone is here early. Perfect, I have the materials ready."

He held a stack of freshly printed documents, the scent of ink still lingering on the pages.

"You already have them?" Yu Xing asked in surprise. "Let me see!"

"One for everyone," He Xingzhou said, handing out copies to the attendees.

"Design and Manufacturing Processes for Metal-Air Batteries?" Yu Xing read through it carefully. The table of contents included technical data on magnesium-air, aluminum-air, zinc-air, and lithium-air batteries.

The beginning covered the principles of these batteries—information they were already familiar with. But the real challenges lay elsewhere. Initially, Yu Xing and the others had been skeptical, wondering if the document contained nothing more than common knowledge.

However, as they reached the section on technical difficulties, their perceptions were completely overturned.

"A brand-new protective film design to prevent electrolyte penetration!"

"A novel formula for organic electrolytes? The operating temperature range already exceeds that of traditional power batteries!"

"Catalyst improvements; design for recyclable hydrogen-oxygen metal compounds..."

The more they read, the more shocked they became, eventually bursting out in excitement. The document explicitly detailed solutions to the very technical bottlenecks that had restricted the development of metal-air batteries. The experimental evidence and performance analyses within left them with no choice but to believe that someone had truly conducted these experiments and achieved reliable, tangible results.

"Wham!" Yu Xing couldn't help but slam his hand on the table. "Which genius is this? Or rather, which team developed this?"

"Indeed, how did I not know that metal-air battery technology had made such massive progress? Why haven't we heard a whisper of this before?" other experts chimed in.

"The fatal bottlenecks that hindered metal-air batteries have been solved. We don't even need to struggle; we can follow these designs to manufacture functional, even commercially viable, metal-air batteries!"

"This is a revolution in the battery industry! There hasn't been a major breakthrough in decades, and I never expected to witness one with my own eyes today!"

As frontier researchers, they understood the gravity of these documents. Whoever possessed this information could easily become one of the world's wealthiest individuals, an industry tycoon, or a superstar in the scientific world.

He Xingzhou smiled. "Everyone, I can guarantee that the information here is real and reliable. However, there is still a significant gap between paper information and industrial-scale production. You will encounter further challenges, and those are for you to resolve!"

Yu Xing stood up immediately, his heart surging with excitement. "Director, leave it to us! With such detailed documentation, if we still can't build it, I wouldn't have the face to stay here any longer!" His shift in address from "Comrade" to "Director" spoke volumes of his enthusiasm.

"Exactly! This is our specialty. We will have a product ready within a month!" the experts pledged in unison.

"Good!" He Xingzhou said. "Then I leave it to you all. For these four types of metal-air batteries, and the nanocrystalline solar cells as well, I hope everyone can develop them as quickly as possible. We will weigh the pros and cons before final implementation. Specifically, I need a lithium-air power battery as an energy reserve for my electromagnetic levitation vehicle, and the nanocrystalline solar panels to power the institute's station. No issues there, right?"

"No issues at all!" Yu Xing assured him. "We will complete the mission!"

"Good. Carry on with your research; I have matters to attend to with the other groups," He Xingzhou said.

By then, the battery team was already impatient to begin, starting their research, verifying the information, and requisitioning experimental materials. Verifying the data was a necessary rigor for scientific research.

After finishing with them, He Xingzhou checked in on the other groups to ensure their work was on track.

"With the battery issue settled, the next step is the maglev motor." He Xingzhou checked his tech tree. To unlock the maglev motor, he first needed to unlock general motor technology and basic maglev technology. It was worth noting that if He Xingzhou directly obtained relevant technical information, he could unlock the corresponding technology without consuming energy.

As China already possessed these two foundational technologies, He Xingzhou requested the files and had his quantum computer process them, instantly unlocking both.

"Unlocking the maglev motor requires 100 units of energy and about four days," He Xingzhou thought. "In that case, I might as well produce a video first."

In an office, Ding Yue set up the camera. In front of the lens stood He Xingzhou, dressed in casual attire, alongside the attractive and charismatic Xu Zhilan. Both had been recruited by He Xingzhou to assist with the filming.

"Hello everyone, I am He Xingzhou. This is my assistant; you can call her Yaoyao." (Yaoyao was the stage name Xu Zhilan chose, as she preferred not to reveal her real name.)

"Today, we are releasing a new video to teach you how to create an entirely new technological product!"

"We previously teased that it would be vehicle-related. I saw comments guessing it was a model car, a homemade toy train, or a tricycle."

"I ask you all to expand your imaginations a little—don't lower the standards of a Planet Builder. The vehicle we are making in this series is something you often see in science fiction films: it can hover, it is autonomous, and it is capable of supersonic speeds—the electromagnetic levitation vehicle!"