Building a Sci-Fi Empire: Starting with Cold Nuclear Fusion

Inside Laboratory One.

Chen Yuan sat in front of the computer and opened the software for drawing design drafts.

Just now, Zhang Shulin, an expert in nuclear energy, gave a general introduction to what a nuclear battery is and proposed some feasible experimental plans.

In order to verify the feasibility of the plan, Zhu Yun, Lao Qin and others have temporarily set aside some people to do some preliminary preparations.

With nothing much to do, Chen Yuan decided to first draw up the nuclear battery design diagram that he had just simulated using quantum computing.

Yes, after looking at the nuclear battery design drawings brought by Zhang Shulin, he had already used quantum computing to simulate more than twenty different nuclear battery design drawings.

Now that he's been able to simulate it, why hasn't he released it?

The answer is simple: he had already performed exceptionally well in his last attempt to gain a foothold in the company.

If I were to simply glance at someone else's design drawings this time and then produce a workable design, it might arouse suspicion.

Therefore, Chen Yuan thought that everyone should work with Zhang Shulin to conduct research and development first, and then he would offer some constructive suggestions to help the nuclear battery project achieve a successful outcome.

Once you've achieved your goals, you'll naturally be promoted ahead of schedule, without the risk of exposing your secrets.

He didn't want his outstanding performance to lead others to speculate that he possessed a system or something.

Although Chen Yuan does not have a system, he can connect to the quantum spiritual realm, which is no different from having a system.

Because of this idea, he did not immediately draw up the nuclear battery design required by Liyao Company, but instead drew up another nuclear battery design that he was more interested in.

The core technology required by Liyao Company for the nuclear battery simulated by quantum computing is the nickel-63 nuclear isotope decay technology.

The core technology of the nuclear battery that Chen Yuan is currently drawing is carbon-14 isotope decay technology.

The two differ greatly in technology due to the different materials used.

After about an hour of drawing, Chen Yuan not only completed the design drawing, but also wrote down all the key points and data next to it.

Quantum computing can simulate product design blueprints and manufacturing processes, and then, through quantum recombination, these can be stored in his mind.

This is as if he could master the complete technology simply by simulating it, rather than simply "plagiarism".

Just as the design drawings for the carbon-14 nuclear battery were finished, Xiaoyun's voice came through the window, "Engineer Chen, the 1175Ah cells are about to undergo a new round of testing. Would you please come and take a look?"

Chen Yuan turned his head and saw Xiao Yun pointing to the other end of the laboratory.

Although he joined a new project team, he was a key figure in the 1175Ah battery cell project, so he naturally had to oversee the testing in order to make improvements as soon as possible if any problems arose.

He casually saved the design drawing, then stood up and said, "Okay, I'll come and take a look."

After speaking, Chen Yuan followed Xiao Yun to the testing and verification area.

About a few minutes later.

Zhu Yun and Lao Qin accompanied Zhang Shulin over.

Old Qin pointed to Chen Yuan's computer desk and said, "Professor Zhang, please use my apprentice's computer. My computer contains some company secrets, so it may not be convenient for you to use it. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I understand."

Zhang Shulin waved his hand and sat down at Chen Yuan's computer desk. "You guys go ahead and get busy. I'll draw up the nuclear battery design drawings I showed you before. Keep a copy for yourselves and think about how to upgrade them."

"Okay."

Thank you for your help.

Zhu Yun and Lao Qin responded, then took their leave to attend to their respective tasks.

Zhang Shulin found and opened the software for drawing design drafts on his computer desktop.

As soon as the software was opened, a design diagram came into view, along with a series of information and data written in dense text.

He instinctively wanted to clear it away and then draw up the nuclear battery design.

Suddenly, Zhang Shulin's eyes fell on the words "Carbon-14 Nuclear Battery" at the top.

"what?"

He couldn't help but show a look of surprise, and his hands stopped moving.

Zhang Shulin looked closely at the design drawings and saw that it was a nuclear battery made using carbon-14 carbon isotope decay technology.

As an expert in nuclear energy, he naturally knew that carbon-14 could utilize nuclear energy not through nuclear fission or fusion, but through beta decay.

During beta decay, a neutron in the carbon-14 nucleus transforms into a proton, releasing a high-energy electron and an antineutrino, thus transforming into a stable nitrogen-14 nucleus.

Because carbon-14 releases high-energy electrons during its beta decay, it is possible to convert electron energy into electrical energy using specific methods.

It is theoretically feasible, but current science and technology cannot achieve this yet; it is still under development.

Zhang Shulin knew all this, so when he saw the design drawings for the carbon-14 nuclear power battery, his eyes immediately lit up.

He wanted to see if there was any possibility of realizing this carbon-14 nuclear battery design, which is currently impossible with technology.

The overall framework of the design is fine, but there are still some points of doubt.

Zhang Shulin looked at the information written on the side.

The document above contained a series of instructions on how to implement the technique.

The first technique involves the decay of carbon-14 atoms to release beta particles, which then form a continuous electric current.

Zhang Shulin adjusted his reading glasses and read aloud in a low voice: "Carbon-14 releases high-energy electrons through its radioactive decay and uses the β-volt effect to directly convert the kinetic energy of these electrons into an electric current. This process does not involve the conversion of thermal energy, but is similar to the physical mechanism of a solar cell converting photons into electrical energy. However, the energy source is radioactive decay, not sunlight..."

What follows is a long section of theoretical knowledge.

It roughly describes how to effectively convert the high-energy particles released during the radioactive decay of carbon-14 into an electric current.

Zhang Shulin's eyes were filled with astonishment, because all the theories Chen Yuan wrote were revolutionary innovations!

This……

That's an absolutely brilliant idea!

Zhang Shulin has been working in the nuclear energy field for so long, he never imagined that he could use this method to convert carbon-14 decay into electricity.

He considered it for a moment and concluded that this approach was feasible.

But a new problem arises: what semiconductor material should be used to absorb electrons?

If a suitable semiconductor material cannot be found to absorb electrons, such a theory alone is not enough.

As soon as Zhang Shulin had this question, his eyes caught sight of the semiconductor material written below—silicon carbide or artificial diamond!

Ok?

Two solutions were given?

Zhang Shulin fell into deep thought, pondering whether silicon carbide or synthetic diamond could serve as semiconductor materials that absorb electrons during the decay of carbon-14.

After comparing and calculating with his professional knowledge, he finally came to the conclusion that the contents written on it had a high chance of being realized.

The probability of it being achieved is over 95%.

The prerequisite is that these semiconductors need to have a special structure.

Zhang Shulin believes that if he were to deduce it, he could design the structure within three days using this information and data.

He was itching to try it out and was about to do some derivation when he discovered that there was already a structure inside a semiconductor material below, a structure similar to a PN junction of a diode!

"This structure is ingenious."

Zhang Shulin couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "In this structure, the built-in electric field separates the generated electrons and holes in opposite directions. Electrons are pushed towards the N-region, and holes are pushed towards the P-region. The continuous separation of charges establishes a stable potential difference across the PN junction. When an external circuit is connected across the semiconductor, electrons will flow from the N-region to the P-region through the circuit, forming a continuous direct current, thereby powering the device!"

What does this mean?

This means that if this design and the accompanying details are followed, it is indeed possible to create a miniature, ultra-long-life "electronic pump" with carbon-14 isotope decay as its core technology.

In short, Zhang Shulin knew from this that this carbon-14 nuclear energy battery was feasible!

He couldn't help but get excited. If this nuclear battery could really be developed, it would definitely take the entire nuclear battery industry a giant leap forward.

Most importantly, the raw material for conventional nuclear batteries is expensive plutonium-238, which costs more than $8,000 per gram, while carbon-14 isotopes can be purified from nuclear waste, and the raw material cost is only one-twentieth of that of plutonium-238!

In other words, once this nuclear battery is realized, not only will the cost be greatly reduced, but it will also consume nuclear waste and make a significant contribution to environmental protection.

In addition, the use of diamond or silicon carbide semiconductors to create "atomic cages" can efficiently capture electrons released from the decay of carbon-14, and this innovation can greatly improve energy conversion efficiency.

Traditional nuclear batteries have a conversion efficiency of less than two percent.

Zhang Shulin estimates that this method can achieve a conversion rate of over 6%, which is at least three times the conversion efficiency.

He was secretly excited when his eyes fell on the words below that the conversion rate could reach an astonishing 8%!

"Wh...what!?"

Zhang Shulin's eyes widened. "An eight percent conversion rate? This...this is unbelievable!"

He was so surprised that his expression became increasingly serious.

Zhang Shulin was well aware of one thing: research on decay technology like this often takes several years for a team of hundreds of people to achieve results, and a research team of Xinghe Company's size would basically be unable to develop it. Otherwise, Liyao Company would not have invited him from Beijing.

To his surprise, Xinghe Company already had a design.

Most importantly, it has to be a feasible design!

This left him somewhat bewildered, wondering why Galaxy Corporation, with such a formidable R&D team, didn't engage in nuclear battery development.

Zhang Shulin continued to stare at the information and data below.

The more he looked, the more alarmed and delighted he became, because the bottom not only detailed how to manufacture this nuclear battery, but also listed all the theoretically achievable data after it was manufactured.

It's as if this isn't a design proposal, but rather a data record obtained after a finished product has been manufactured and tested!

Zhang Shulin was quite certain that, based on the information and data written above, this nuclear battery had very likely already been developed.

This left him somewhat bewildered. If such cutting-edge technology had been developed, why had Galaxy Corporation never announced it to the public?

That doesn't make sense!

No company could resist announcing a research and development achievement of this magnitude, one that could cause an earthquake in the entire industry.

It was precisely because Zhang Shulin knew these things that he had doubts.

Yes, he still believed that the carbon-14 nuclear battery was the result of the joint efforts of the Xinghe Company's R&D department, and never imagined that it was designed by Chen Yuan alone.

Just as Zhang Shulin was racking his brains trying to figure it out.

Suddenly, a young man's voice came from beside him, "Professor Zhang, you are an expert in nuclear energy. How is my carbon-14 nuclear battery design? Could you give me some advice?"

Hearing the sound, Zhang Shulin turned his head and saw a young R&D staff member standing there asking questions with a look of eager curiosity.

He was taken aback. Instead of answering the question, he countered, "Are you saying that you developed this carbon-14 nuclear battery?"

Chen Yuan originally intended to keep it a secret, but he didn't expect Zhang Shulin to see it.

He decided to stop hiding it and asked the nuclear energy expert about the carbon-14 nuclear battery.

So he nodded and said, "Yes, Professor, when you showed us the nuclear battery design drawings, I had a sudden inspiration and designed this carbon-14 nuclear energy battery on the spot."

What are you talking about?

What I just showed you was the plutonium-238 nuclear battery, which is a completely different technology from the carbon-14 nuclear battery, okay?

Zhang Shulin: "..."

He even began to wonder if the young man in front of him was joking!

Whether it is true or not, the fact that this single person's ingenuity designed the carbon-14 nuclear battery felt like a huge joke to Zhang Shulin.