After listening to Xu Chuan's words, everyone thought about it.

At present, whether it is in China, the United States, or the European Union, the main materials considered are metals and alloys.

The first wall is the inner wall of the equipment that needs to directly face the thermal radiation of the nuclear reactor and the wind of high-temperature particles.

At the same time, in order to be able to use nuclear fusion reactions to generate electricity, it is also necessary to convert the thermal radiation and ionic wind produced by nuclear fusion into electrical energy.

In addition to the impact of various high-energy particles such as neutron beam radiation, deuterium, tritium, and helium, the first wall material also has to withstand high temperatures.

Although the high-temperature deuterium-tritium plasma in the reactor chamber is confined by a magnetic field and does not come into contact with the first wall material, the first wall material is still exposed to thousands of degrees of heat.

Not every material can withstand this level of high temperature, and the properties of metal materials are undoubtedly more suitable than other materials.

This is also the main reason why the mainstream of the first wall material is metal and alloy materials.

But now the person in front of them told them that instead of looking for a resistant material in the metal material, it was better to look at other materials.

This couldn't help but make everyone ponder.

After thinking for a while, Xing Xuexing, a professor of materials at Mizuki University, raised his head and asked, "If you put aside the metal, there are not many materials to choose from. ”

"A few months ago, I attended an international materials exchange meeting in Europe, and I talked to people at the meeting about the materials of the first wall of controlled nuclear fusion, and the European side seems to be studying the feasibility of using ceramic materials as the first wall materials."

"And there are some international research institutions that are more optimistic about the use of nano-ceramic materials, which is a new route. Maybe we can try it too? ”

Xu Chuan shook his head and said, "I'm afraid ceramics won't work either." ”

"Although the high-temperature resistance of ceramic materials and the resistance to neutron irradiation are not bad, they can be used. But the thermal conductivity of ceramics is so poor that if you can't take the heat accumulated in the first wall away from the reactor, you will eventually have problems. ”

"What about graphene or carbon nanomaterials?" On the side, Zhao Guanggui thought for a while and asked: "If you consider the heat resistance, carbon materials can reach more than 3,500 degrees in an oxygen-free environment, surpassing most metal materials. ”

"At the same time, the thermal conductivity of some carbon materials is also very good, such as graphene, and the thermal conductivity of graphene is very good, which is conducive to the export of surface heat."

"I have consulted the relevant literature, and the use of carbon fiber instead of tungsten and molybdenum and other alloy materials is a technical route that is as promising as nano ceramics in the field of international controllable fusion."

"Even some research institutes are already trying to start using carbon nanomaterials to replace some metal materials as the inner wall structure of the first wall."

Xu Chuan thought for a moment and replied: "Carbon materials can be considered. ”

"You're right, some carbon materials are able to withstand temperatures of more than 3,000 degrees when not exposed to air and oxidizers. In terms of high temperature resistance, carbon materials can be comparable to tungsten melting points, which meets the needs of first-wall materials. ”

"But when applied to controlled nuclear fusion reactors, carbon materials also have a fatal disadvantage at high temperatures."

Hearing this, the others looked over one after another.

Xu Chuan smiled and continued: "Don't forget that the fuels for DT controlled nuclear fusion are mainly deuterium and tritium, both of which are isotopes of hydrogen and have the chemical properties of hydrogen. ”

"The high-temperature plasma of these two substances, once it hits the carbon material, is easily absorbed by the carbon, in addition to adsorption, there is also a chemical effect, turning the carbon into organic matter."

"Not only will it change the properties of the material, but it will also consume the fuel of nuclear fusion, reduce the efficiency of nuclear fusion, especially for the absorption of expensive and radioactive tritium, which we do not want to see."

"After all, tritium is not enough in the first place, it is scarce, and if it is absorbed by the first wall material, we will be in big trouble."

"However, carbon nanomaterials can indeed be considered, and aside from this fatal shortcoming, carbon nanomaterials are actually very suitable in theory."

After a pause, Xu Chuan looked up at Zhao Guanggui and said with a smile: "As for how to solve this shortcoming, this problem will be handed over to Professor Zhao." ”

"In the future, Professor Zhao, you will lead a group to study it, this may be a feasible way."

Hearing this, Zhao Guanggui was stunned for a moment, and then his face turned happy and excited: "I will do my best!" ”

It is a great opportunity to lead a project team independently in a megaproject like controlled nuclear fusion.

With this experience, no matter where you go to work in the future, you will be rushed to ask for it.

And when you do research here, you don't have to worry about scientific research funding.

With the big guy in front of him, funding is not a problem.

Of course, this does not mean that he can squander the funds at will, and he can't put the funds in his pocket, but at least, in terms of research trial and error, exploring new routes, etc., he doesn't have to worry that the funds will be interrupted due to long-term inconclusion.

Most of them are still talking about feelings and dreams.

Who wouldn't want to publish a few top SCI journals? Who wouldn't want to make their own research that will go down in history?

Xu Chuan didn't pay much attention to this, smiled, and encouraged: "Come on." Even if you can't explore this path, I hope you can find something useful in carbon nanomaterials. ”

On the side, Zhao Hongzhi asked curiously: "Academician Xu, aside from nanoceramics and carbon nanomaterials, what is your choice?" ”

Hearing this, others also looked over, curious about what Xu Chuan's choice was.

After all, after the big guy vetoed metal materials, nano-ceramics and carbon nano-materials, there was almost no room for choice left by the first wall material.

Xu Chuan smiled and said, "To be honest, I didn't choose a suitable material route, but for other radiation other than neutron radiation, I can find a way to solve it." ”

“？？？？”

In the laboratory, many people had question marks on their faces, but soon, some people reacted.

Xing Xuexing, a professor of materials at Mizuki University, asked with interest: "Is it the 'nuclear energy β radiant energy aggregation and conversion power' technology that you used in nuclear waste power generation two years ago?" ”

Before joining Qixia's controllable nuclear fusion project, he had some understanding of the extremely young boss in front of him.

Aside from his theoretical achievements in mathematics, physics and astronomy, this bigwig's achievements in the field of materials science can also be said to be the pinnacle of China.

Others may not feel much, after all, the Nobel Prize, the Fields Medal, the Seven Millennium Problems, etc., are too big in theory.

But as a field of nuclear energy materials, how can he not feel the kind of technology that can solve nuclear waste?

Nuclear waste is one of the world's top problems, and since nuclear energy has been used, nuclear radiation has been an incomparably big problem for all countries.

If it weren't for the miracle created in the past two years, I am afraid that China would still have a headache for more and more nuclear waste.

Of course, he only knew that there was such a technology that could solve the radiation problem, but he didn't know exactly what it was.

After all, this is the core of the technology of 'nuclear energy β radiant energy accumulation and conversion mechanism', something that is strictly secret.

Hearing Professor Xing Xuexing's words, Xu Chuan chuckled and nodded, "That's right." Among the technologies of 'mechanism of nuclear energy β radiant energy aggregation and conversion of electrical energy', there is a technology specifically for the construction of materials, called 'atomic cycle'. ”

"The harm of various radiation lies in the super ionization ability, which can destroy the grain boundaries, structures and other properties of traditional materials, which will lead to embrittlement, weakening and loss of characteristics of materials.

"But what if there was a material whose grain boundary structure could be repaired at a rate that could keep up with the ionizing capacity of nuclear radiation? Does that mean that it can perfectly intercept all kinds of radiation? ”

"The 'atomic cycle technology' is based on this theory."

"The materials constructed by this technology can quickly repair themselves and re-condense into a stable grain boundary structure after being damaged by radiation and ionizing the grain boundaries."

"I think that if we find a suitable material and construct it through this technology, it should be able to act as the first wall material to face all kinds of radiation and high-energy particles of high-temperature plasma."

When he returned home three years ago, he thought about how to go down the path of controlled nuclear fusion.

The first project he took over after returning to China was, on the one hand, indeed solving the problem of nuclear waste, and on the other hand, paving the way for controlled nuclear fusion.

The two techniques, 'atomic circulation' and 'radiation crystallization', are theoretically perfectly fine for the first wall in a controlled nuclear fusion reactor chamber.

Xing Xuexing thought about it with interest and said: "I have learned some things about nuclear waste before, and theoretically speaking, materials that can deal with the radiation problem of high-concentration nuclear waste should be no problem to be applied on the first wall." ”

"Of course, the choice of materials for synthesis using the technology you mentioned needs to be considered. At least in terms of temperature, resistance to particle impact, etc., attention is required. ”

After a pause, Xing Xuexing then asked curiously: "The impact of radiation and high-energy particles can be absorbed, but what about neutron beams and neutron irradiation?" ”

"You must know that the strongest problem faced by the first wall material is neutron irradiation, which carries strong energy neutron irradiation can destroy the structure of all materials, and even cause cavity structure, resulting in the overall swelling and embrittlement of the first wall material."

"I guess you can't absorb neutrons with this technique, right? At least large-scale absorption is impossible. ”

"After all, neutrons are still useful in controlled nuclear fusion, and if they are absorbed, tritium self-sustaining will not be completed."

"So what are you going to do with neutrons?"

PS: There is another chapter in the evening, asking for a monthly pass