Chapter 1580 Verification, the idea is feasible!

Almost at the same time.

Beijing, Torch Laboratory.

Chang Haonan and Li Yabo were also operating the MTA-01 equipment intensively.

Of course, it is the one numbered CN-001.

However, their observation object was not the electrode catalyst, but the thin film sample that showed negative refraction effect in the near-infrared band.

In fact, this is the original intention of the birth of MTA-01.

Existing metal-based negative refractive materials have extremely poor stability. Traditional electron microscopes and atom probes need to prepare samples and conduct tests separately. The data collected is like shooting at a target from a distance, making it difficult to accurately correlate transient structural changes with optical properties.

Only a new tool like MTA-01, which can perform high-resolution transmission imaging and atom probe tomography analysis on the same needle tip almost simultaneously, can capture fleeting key images.

"Sample set 207, ready to board."

Chang Haonan handed the sample rod to Li Yabo next to him, then put down the electrolytic polishing needle in his hand, stood up and moved his right arm which was a little stiff due to keeping it stable for a long time.

Actually, given his current status, he rarely needs to do this kind of physical work himself.

But on the one hand, the equipment had just arrived and the students who had been trained temporarily could not be trusted.

On the other hand, there is not enough staff in the laboratory.

Over the past few days, the entire testing center has almost become an efficiently operating assembly line.

The synthesis lab upstairs is constantly receiving freshly prepared film samples;

The dedicated optical refractive index testing workshop next door quickly screens out the “lucky ones” that exhibit negative refraction effects;

The samples that passed the screening were quickly sent to the sample preparation table where Chang Haonan was, and in his hands they turned into nano-needle tips carrying atomic secrets.

Finally, these tips were carefully mounted on the sample holder of the MTA-01 and placed into the vacuum chamber for atomic-scale characterization imaging.

Everything looked so perfect.

The only problem is that the success rate is distressingly low.

Negative refraction is rare, and samples stable enough to undergo full MTA-01 testing are even rarer.

After dozens of hours of fierce battle, hundreds of sets of samples passed by like water, and Chang Haonan and Li Yabo's eyes were almost glued to the constantly refreshing three-dimensional atomic point cloud and reconstructed model on the main control screen.

Even a little numb.

But there is still one last step to a complete data set.

At this moment, a student hurried in from outside the door, holding a set of sample boxes that had just been tested.

Chang Haonan shook his arms helplessly and prepared to return to his seat.

But he was interrupted by Li Yabo's words.

"Teacher, look at this group!"

Chang Haonan's expression brightened up, and he quickly walked to the computer. At the same time, he waved to the students at the door, indicating that they didn't need to bring any more samples.

Li Yabo quickly called up the data No. 17T-207 that had just been tested, and displayed the high-resolution TEM image, APT three-dimensional atomic distribution map and the negative refractive index curve transmitted synchronously from the optical testing workshop next door side by side.

On the screen, the TEM image on the left clearly shows a unique, twisted honeycomb-like atomic arrangement inside the film.

The APT point cloud model in the middle accurately marks the spatial positions of different atoms, and the core area presents a highly ordered but slightly distorted array structure.

The optical data on the right clearly indicate that the sample has a significant negative refractive index in a specific near-infrared band.

"The comparison table is filled."

Li Yabo's voice became shrill because of excitement.

"Ah."

Chang Haonan sat down in front of the computer and filled the data of 17T-207 into the last blank column of the correlation comparison table.

"Compare to Group 102."

Chang Haonan said in a deep voice.

Li Yabo followed instructions and called up another set of data.

It is also a TEM image, but the internal honeycomb structure is obviously loose, with multiple fractures and missing atoms; the APT point cloud is even more messy; the corresponding optical curve is mediocre and even shows positive refraction.

"Look at group 109 again," Chang Haonan continued to instruct.

The TEM and APT of this group showed a highly perfect structure, with a degree of order even exceeding 207 groups. The optical curves also showed that its negative refraction effect was quite obvious and its stability was also very good.

Even after 17 hours the negative refraction effect was still detectable.

"It has been shown that the integrity of the spatial structure of the sample is related to the negative refractive properties exhibited by the sample..."

Li Yabo looked at the comparison on the screen and hit the enter key on the keyboard.

A correlation value of over 0.9 was quickly calculated on the screen.

“There is a significant correlation!”

This almost perfectly verifies the conjecture put forward by Chang Haonan at the beginning of the year.

That is, in a specific material system, under the command of the light field, a microscopic structure similar to optical superfluidity can be induced, so that atoms no longer work alone, but respond to light as a whole to achieve stable negative refraction characteristics.

Chang Haonan nodded, looking much calmer than Li Yabo.

Over the past year, he has verified his ideas from multiple angles.

This result is not surprising.

"The direction is basically correct, but this is only a phased result." Chang Haonan signaled Li Yabo to calm down. "It is a good thing to verify the feasibility of the idea, but the key is to truly synthesize a controllable, stable and applicable negative refractive material."

At this time, other laboratory members who participated in the test also gathered around.

One of them asked:

"Hasn't the Institute of Chemistry already come up with a controllable three-dimensional atomic array?"

"Not quite the same." Chang Haonan took off his lab coat and rubbed his sore arms. "Negative refractive materials have much more stringent requirements on the accuracy of the atomic array, the matching degree of the base material, and the environmental stability... At least the current laser programming technology cannot be directly applied."

But Li Yabo next to him immediately said, "Teacher, I have been thinking about the technology of atomic arrays for some time, and I have some ideas."

"Ok?"

For Chang Haonan, as long as he has a specific idea, many complicated processes can be completed by cheating.

Therefore, it is definitely a good thing that Li Yabo can come up with new ideas independently.

"I plan to refer to the recently published graphene-silicon insertion process."

While answering, Li Yabo took out a printed paper from the pile of documents next to him.

It was published in the Journal of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (JCAS).

“First, we increase the amount of functional atoms deposited to obtain a large number of defects, then perform annealing to repair the defects, and then select the parts with the most perfect repair effect.”

He spoke faster, pointing to the diagram in the paper:

"Using MTA-01 to monitor the repair process and combining it with functional analysis theory to predict the repair path, there is a high probability that a portion of the area that has been repaired to a near-perfect level can be screened out... In addition, this process can also give the product strong air stability, which is exactly what we need."

Chang Haonan took the paper and quickly glanced at the key data and conclusions.

This glance really piqued his interest.

The impact factor of JCAS has been rising in recent years. Although it still has some gap with its benchmark journals Nature and Science, it is favored by many high-level researchers at home and abroad.

It even forced the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), which has a similar abbreviation but was founded earlier, to change its name.

Otherwise, there are always some carefree and hard-working graduate students who submit their papers on mathematics, physics, or even mechanics and civil engineering to JACS.

A few minutes later, Chang Haonan looked at Li Yabo approvingly:

"This 'supersaturation-repair' approach does have potential, especially in exploring new structures... air stability is also a key plus."

As he spoke, he rolled up the printed paper and held it in his hand, seemingly with no intention of returning it to Li Yabo:

"In short, be bold and try, pay attention to record every parameter detail, and collect complete data for MTA-01."

"Understood!" Li Yabo was full of energy. "I estimate... the first synthesis and preliminary testing can be completed in the next few days at the earliest. I will report the preliminary results to you then!"

"Okay." Chang Haonan hung up his lab coat. "But a guest is coming soon, so I have to go upstairs first. If you have any questions, feel free to come to my office."

He patted Li Yabo on the shoulder, turned and left the still roaring test center.