Clang, Clang, Clang

The micron-level processing of sample B178 was mainly carried out by Yang Ding Tian, the first experimenter in the project team, who had the strongest hands-on skills.

Tang Yuan played the primary support role, responsible for monitoring real-time data, adjusting equipment parameters, and working closely with Yang Ding Tian.

The rest of the personnel prepared to provide support, while Shen Qi took overall control of the situation.

Buzzing, the equipment started up, and a technical battle at the micrometer scale began.

"Turn off the gas protection." Tang Yuan skillfully operated various equipment, providing support to the chief operator Yang Ding Tian.

"B178-1, begin processing, start FIB." Yang Ding Tian stared intently at the sample through the electron microscope.

The only sound in the laboratory could be the brief, abrupt conversation between Yang Ding Tian and Tang Yuan.

This kind of experiment requires at least two people to operate simultaneously. For each key experimental step, one person reports the details of the procedure to be performed, and the other responds with a sentence to confirm.

Even though these advanced devices have error-proofing features, before AI becomes widespread, it is still humans who directly operate the devices.

Everyone makes mistakes, so we need to remind and supervise each other.

Focused ion beam etching is used to etch the surface of the B178-1 Cerium-Gallium-Copper Metallic Plastic sample. This is a very delicate technical task, as the sample being processed has a diameter of just over 100 micrometers.

In the processing environment, the temperature rapidly reached 120 degrees Celsius at a rate of 20 degrees Celsius per minute.

"Temperature 120 degrees Celsius."

"Temperature 120 degrees Celsius."

Yang Ding Tian and Tang Yuan reported their numbers one after the other.

Shen Qi gave the crucial command, "Maintain this temperature and proceed to the molding stage."

Metallic Plastic possess the strength of metals at room temperature, and when heated, they exhibit excellent filling ability in the supercooled liquid phase region, which is something conventional crystalline materials cannot achieve.

Everyone was tense and expectant. After a series of complex operations, Yang Ding Tian produced a gear.

The diameter of this gear is 100 micrometers, or 0.1 millimeters, which is close to the diameter of a human hair.

Under a microscope, the outline of this miniature gear is clearly visible and its dimensions are precise, indicating that the sample has sufficient strength.

The XRD diffraction pattern of the micro gear shows obvious dome-shaped diffraction peaks and no very sharp crystallization peaks, indicating that the gear is completely amorphous.

Yang Ding Tian carefully put away the sample, Tang Yuan saved the data, the two exchanged a glance, and gave each other an OK sign.

Shen Qi made the same gesture. "OK."

The other members in the lab were ecstatic. "We did it!"

Yes!

After a year of arduous work and continuous efforts, the FASTER Project Team, led by Shen Qi, worked tirelessly and made significant scientific progress by fully leveraging the collective wisdom and strength of the team.

The 100-micron-sized Metallic Plastic, which is the gear that Shen Qi and his team just processed, can also be processed into products of other shapes and properties for use in manufacturing components for precision instruments in fields such as aerospace, communications, medicine, and defense.

"Everyone has worked hard these past few days. Let's not say anything more, just finish up the remaining work, and then we'll go out and celebrate." Shen Qi was also very happy. Every time a major achievement is made, everyone can publish academic articles and receive some material rewards. Who wouldn't be happy about gaining both fame and fortune?

The researchers at the dinner table kept bringing up their research, and someone asked Shen Qi what his next step was: the C Series?

Shen Qi believes that the next step should not be to focus on the processing scale, but rather on the internal structure of Amorphous Materials.

In some industries, products must be made large; the bigger, the better.

The deeper Shen Qi and his colleagues delve into their field of study, the smaller the object of their research becomes.

Smaller than micrometers are nanometers, and Amorphous Materials with Nanostructure are Shen Qi's next project.

This is not about machining Amorphous Materials into miniature and precise gears or nuts, but about studying the microscopic principles and fabrication techniques between Nanoscale amorphous particles.

"This project is actually quite interesting. The smaller and smaller our research subjects become, the more likely they are to be magnified and reveal countless new things. I can't predict exactly what those new things will be, but I think they must be something extraordinary. Okay, let's not talk about work during a meal in a public place. Come on, everyone raise your glasses, and no goldfish allowed." Shen Qi raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp. Everyone else did too, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves.

What followed was the usual procedure. Shen Qi's researchers were very familiar with the process: organizing data, writing papers, and producing interim project summary reports.

Shen Qi let everyone do everything, but there were two things he had to personally oversee: people and money.

The core issue of intellectual property rights in the scientific research field is patent rights, which, to put it simply, is a matter of money.

Regarding the patent issue of the B178 sample Cerium-Gallium-Copper Metallic Plastic, Shen Qi still personally went to negotiate. He found an acquaintance, Director Qi, and entrusted the Yanda Technology Transfer Center to handle this matter for him.

"Academician Shen, you're releasing a patent every six months, that's amazing!" Director Qi exclaimed in amazement. He knew that Shen Qi's patented inventions weren't small gadgets like energy-saving light bulbs, but rather very high-end, cutting-edge Amorphous Materials.

Shen Qi said, "Hey Lao Qi, we have to hurry. I made Military Order to the higher-ups. That's how the FASTER project got its code name."

Director Qi: "Alright, I'll take a look at the information you gave me and get it sorted out for you as soon as possible."

The paper on Cerium-Gallium-Copper Metallic Plastic was written by Yang Ding Tian, and the summary report of the phased project was written by Tang Yuan.

Both were key personnel at the 880,000 Yuan Level and were very familiar with the project, so they quickly completed their papers and summary reports.

There were tangible results, articles, and summaries, and the relevant departments were very satisfied with FASTER's progress and output.

The relevant authorities and Yenching University commended the FASTER Project Team, hoping that all researchers would continue their efforts and achieve even greater success.

Today marks the first anniversary of the FASTER Project Team's establishment. At this time last year, Shen Qi borrowed 10 researchers from the Institute of Physics to join the project team.

A year has passed, and Shen Qi is facing some personnel issues.

Yang Ding Tian joined Shen Qi shortly after the center was established and was part of the center's staff.

In other words, Yang Ding Tian's personnel assessment is under the jurisdiction of the center, while his salary, bonuses, subsidies, promotions, and logistical support are all decided by Shen Qi.

The 10 researchers seconded from the Institute of Physics worked with Shen Qi on projects, and their personnel records remained with the Institute of Physics.

At the end of the year, Shen Qi gave Yang Ding Tian the highest possible evaluation grade, but Shen Qi was unable to conduct personnel evaluations for the other 10 researchers.

Some researchers complained to Shen Qi that the annual performance evaluations given to them by the Institute of Physics were very average, the kind that neither increased nor decreased their salaries.

Including Shen Qi's center, all departments at Yenching University classify employee performance evaluations into four levels: A, B, C, and D.

A, whose annual performance is exceptionally outstanding, will receive a two-level increase in basic salary, which will be an important criterion when evaluating professional titles and allocating housing.

B, Excellent performance throughout the year, will receive a one-level increase in basic salary.

C, Average performance this year, no salary increase.

D. Poor annual performance will result in a reduction of one grade in basic salary, and no consideration will be given to professional title evaluation or housing allocation within three years.

Shen Qi gave Yang Ding Tian A, but Tang Yuan and the others in the Physics Department mostly got Cs.

As an administrator, Shen Qi could understand the Physics Department's approach. There were quota limits for A and B. The ten seconded Physics Research Institute members hadn't done any work for the Physics Department in a year, so it was normal for the Physics Department to give them C.

It's not that the Department of Physics is targeting anyone; the dean of the Department of Physics has his own considerations, after all, he wants to take care of the employees who didn't make it into the FASTER Project Team.

So Shen Qi said to Dean Ning of the Physics Department, "How about this, Dean Ning, all the personnel positions of the ten physics researchers on loan will be transferred to my center. I have more positions than staff here, and we haven't used up the A and B positions this year."