QMES Won Two Grand Prizes at the 14th “Challenge Cup” of Shaanxi Province

In May 2023, the closing and award ceremony of the 14th "Challenge Cup" Extracurricular Academic Science and Technology Works Competition of Shaanxi College Students hosted by Chang 'an University was successfully held in Weishui Campus of Chang 'an University, which was co-sponsored by Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League, Shaanxi Provincial Education and Work Committee of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Department, Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Association, Shaanxi Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, Shaanxi Provincial Students' Federation and Xixian New Area Management Committee. Two teams from QMES won the grand prize in the final for their projects "Nafu Intelligent Fabrication - High Performance Carbon Nanotube Aluminum Matrix Composite Material Prepared by Solid-liquid Method" and "Application of Liquid Crystal Polyimide Thermal Conductivity Composite Film in the Thermal Management of 5G Flexible Electronic Devices", delivering victories in the competition.

The first team is composed of six undergraduates, namely, Yang Zihan, Zhang Guanhua, Xue Langqi, Zhang Yaxin, Ma Zhuohan and Qu Chang. Adopting carbon nanotube/aluminium (CNTs/Al) composite material as the core technology, the team worked out a controllable design of CNTs implantation inside the grain, and prepared a new carbon nanotube aluminium matrix composite material. The defects of traditional aluminium alloy materials, such as strong plastic volume, low elongation, low stiffness and strength, which were caused by the uniform dispersion of CNTs in composite materials, were solved, and comprehensive improvement of mechanical properties such as strong plastic volume, stiffness and strength was achieved. The products are mainly used in new energy vehicle body in white main structural parts and interior parts, aircraft landing gear, keel pillar and fighter skin. The products with improved performance have good development prospects and application value in the field of aerospace and new energy vehicles. The project participated in the 21st "Sanhang Cup" Extracurricular Academic Science and Technology Works Competition of Northwestern Polytechnical University in November 2022, and won the first prize in March 2023. After that, under the careful guidance of teachers and experts from the university and the Youth League Committee of QMES, the project received more detailed guidance which improved its competitiveness. Chen Biao and Xue Xiangyi patiently instructed the team members and supported the continuous development of the project as a solid backing. As the team continued to accumulate experience, the project became more and more mature, and finally it won the grand prize of the provincial competition with the unremitting efforts of all the team members.

"Application of Liquid Crystal Polyimide Thermal Conductivity Composite Film in the Thermal Management of 5G Flexible Electronic Devices" is a project conducted by several undergraduate students, including Li Mukun, Ru Yifan, Huo Lianyi, Sun Yuyao, Zhang Haochuan, Kang Zhecheng and Zhang Chenyang, a student from the School of Chemical Engineering. The project focused on key technical bottlenecks such as the low intrinsic thermal conductivity of polyimide (PI), poor mechanical properties and processing difficulties of PI thermal conductivity composite film under high thermal conductivity fillers. Liquid crystal molecules were used to modify the surface functionalization of carbon nanotubes (LC-CNT) and compound with intrinsically conductive liquid crystal polyimide (LC-PI) matrix under the action of AC electric field. LC-CNT/LC-PI thermal conductivity composite film with excellent thermal conductivity, mechanical properties and heat resistance was prepared, and the thermal conductivity coefficient reached 4.02 W/(m·K), which realized the technical breakthrough of PI thermal conductivity composite film in the field of 5G flexible electronic equipment thermal management. The team members are advanced in practice and innovation, dare to explore and try, and constantly improve their comprehensive ability to increase the competitiveness of the project. Li Mukun, the project leader, united the team members, coordinated the work, and gave full play to the advantages of the members under the clear division of labour. Thanks to the careful guidance of Gu Junwei, Shi Xuetao and Fan Xiaoli, the team is progressing, and the project is developing and won the grand prize in the final. In the future, the project team will sign more cooperation agreements with enterprises, expand the scale of product production, and promote the application of products. The real combination of scientific innovation and technology application has been achieved, showing QMESers' entrepreneurship and fighting spirit.

The school won two grand prizes in the 14th "Challenge Cup" Extracurricular Academic Science and Technology Works Competition of Shaanxi College Students, which reflected the excellent results of the school's education on innovation and entrepreneurship, and further encouraged the students to devote more enthusiasm to scientific and technological innovation and practical entrepreneurial activities. This competition is a witness to the students' qualities of advocating science, pursuing true knowledge, studying hard, innovating actively, braving challenges and cultivating a positive outlook. It also proves that QMES always focuses on the " Integration of Four Abilities", sticks to the educational concept of talent training for scientific research, encourages students to participate in various scientific and technological innovation practices, facilitates students to keep up with the times, cultivates students of the era with all-round development of morality, intelligence, physique, aesthetics and labour, and make positive contributions to the realization of the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Text: Lei Qier

Photo: Yang Zihan, Li Mukun, Zhang Yaxin, Organizing Committee of the competition

Translator: Liu Yang

Review: Cheng Yin