Orion Crest, Series_1

Chapter 166: Expectations

　　Since the instrument was bought back, not only the dean of the Chemistry College, Walter, went to Orion's lab every now and then, but also several old professors at the Life Science College were looking for opportunities to get close to him, and came to use the instrument here in various ways.

　　If it wasn't for the fact that Orion's research was on materials and could not use biotechnology, they would even want to send one of their own students to him as a scientific research labourer, so that they could use the equipment in a slightly more open and honest way.

　　In fact, borrowing instruments is not a big deal, Orion had borrowed them from Gordon University, Princeton, and now he has even borrowed a building.

　　However, his rules here are also very clear: no magnetic samples, no high voltage experiments. At the same time, interns are forbidden to operate on the machine.

　　With these restrictions, with the level of those old professors, just taking a few pictures wouldn't be enough to damage the instruments he used.

　　On the other hand, in addition to Matt and Bob, among the researchers officially hired by Orion, there is also a doctor named Toby.

　　This Dr Toby was a post-doctoral fellow at MIT for two years, and besides being able to use the instruments proficiently, he also has some experience in the field of nanomaterials research, and has a certain international perspective. For Orion, that was enough.

　　A week ago, Dr Toby was still in the process of leaving MIT, but now he finally took the flight back to his home country and arrived in Gordon City.

　　Toby has an ordinary face, wearing glasses, with no special features. If there was any difference between him and a typical engineering guy, it was probably his shy smile.

　　Orion exchanged pleasantries with Toby and then chatted about his research.

　　"The application of hollow carbon spheres and sulphur to form a composite material to address the shuttle effect is a promising direction and the main focus of our research."

　　"Hollow carbon spheres with large specific surface area can increase the sulfur loading and the utilisation of sulfur in electrochemical reactions, and small pore size nanopores can inhibit the diffusion of soluble polysulfide ions into the electrolyte."

　　"Your main task at this stage is to collect data on the effect of the specific surface area and pore size of hollow carbon spheres on the sulphur loading and the mass fraction of polysulphide compounds in the electrolyte, and then send them to me."

　　"You've done similar studies, I suppose?"

　　Toby nodded.

　　"I did do a similar study at MIT, just email me the experimental requirements. By the way, which reagents are you going to use?"

　　Orion thought for a moment.

　　"For the precursor, a copolymer of polyaniline and polypyrrole, and for the pore-making agent, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride would be good."

　　As they chatted, the two men's conversation tacitly turned away from their research and went elsewhere.

　　"You've just returned home, haven't you sorted out a place to live?"

　　"I'm a Gordon local, I have a house over here." Smiling and talking, Toby let out a sigh of emotion, "It's been a while since I've been back, it feels like things have changed quite a bit over here."

　　Orion : "How long have you been in America?"

　　Toby : "Five years. After I went to MIT for my PhD, I've been living there ever since."