Always pursue your passion: Life motto of young scientific researcher

Cao Weiqi, the Manager of the R&D Centre of the Chongqing 2D Materials Institute, was recently awarded the title of "Liangjiang New Area's Most Beautiful Woman Striver of Science and Technology in Industry in 2023".

Cao Weiqi was born in Hubei province and graduated from Harbin Engineering University with a master's degree. In 2017, she came to Chongqing to work for the Liangjiang Graphene Analysis and Testing Service Platform. After dedicating 8 years of her life to the new materials industry, she now serves as the Manager of the R&D center of the Chongqing 2D Materials Institute.

The Chongqing 2D Materials Institute is a platform led by Nobel Laureate Professor Konstantin Novoselov. The institute focuses on the research, application, and industrialization of 2D materials, such as graphene, to facilitate the transformation and upgrading of Chongqing's new materials industry.

Since it was initially applied to the Mate20X by Huawei in 2018, 2D materials heat dissipation has become one of the mainstream thermal management solutions that substitutes physical cooling. 

From smartphones to new energy vehicles, 2D materials have become increasingly prevalent in modern life, finding applications in a wide range of fields. In addition, 2D semiconductors are considered as an alternative to silicon-based materials, and are expected to be used in a variety of application scenarios.

As an example, Cao Weiqi suggested that lithium-ion batteries in new energy vehicles currently have a loading capacity of only 60 kilowatts of electricity. However, with further research in 2D materials, this capacity could increase to 120 kilowatts, enabling the vehicles to travel longer distances.

According to Cao Weiqi, she conducts the roles of service provider and technological supporter in the team. Over the last three years, she has been actively involved in researching key projects, publishing 11 SCI articles, applying for 27 national patents, participating in the compilation of standards, and receiving the Breakthrough Award of Outstanding Science and Technology Innovation at the Global Tech-matching Fair, as well as the Gold Award at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition for Doctorates.

Cao Weiqi appears to attach more value to the sense of achievement that comes from applying her work to production and daily life, rather than on awards themselves. 

"In my eight years of experience in the new materials industry, I have been fortunate enough to witness scientific and technological breakthroughs and developments that have gradually changed our daily lives," she said.

At the workplace, she is wholeheartedly devoted to scientific research, while in life she invests time into her interests, such as travel and exercise.

In 2020, Cao Weiqi made the decision to pursue a full-time engineering doctorate at Chongqing University. "It is love and encouragement consistently that enable me to pursue my every passion. I will always put 'myself' into my priority and I believe immersing yourself into what you are doing is an omen to a life bumper harvest," She said.