Constructing Hopf Insulator from Geometric Perspective of Hopf Invariant

We propose a method to construct Hopf insulators based on the study of topological defects from the geometric perspective of Hopf invariant I.Firstly,we prove two types of topological defects naturally inhering in the inner differential structure of the Hopf mapping.One type is the four-dimensional point defects.

Anchoring Iron-EDTA Complex on Graphene toward the Synthesis of Highly Efficient Fe-N-C Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalyst for Fuel Cells

Developing nonprecious carbon electrocatalysts as alternatives to platinum for cathodic oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells is of signifi- cance. Herein, an efficient precursor-controlled synthesis strategy based on extremely rapid nucleation and deposition process assisted by the liquid nitrogen freeze drying method is explored to anchor cheap iron-EDTA complex evenly dispersed on graphene to realize mJcrostructural homogeneity of the derived Fe-N-C oxygen reduction electrocatalyst. The prepared electrocatatyst possesses excellent performance including high activity with more positive onset and half-wave potential, a long-term stability, and anti-poisoning effect compared to commercial Pt/C. The activity correlates well with the unique sheet-shaped morphology, high surface area, hierarchical porous structure, and the introduction of Fe-Nx/C species. Especially, both the assembled practical alkaline and acid fuel cells based on the synthesized cathode catalysts reveal excellent performance with high open-circuit voltage and power density.

CeO2@NiCo2O4 nanowire arrays on carbon textiles as high performance cathode for Li-O2 batteries

The successful development of Li-O_2 battery technology depends on developing a stable and efficient cathode. As an important step toward this goal, for the first time, we report the development of CeO_2 nanoparticles modified NiCo_2O_4 nanowire arrays(NWAs) grown on the carbon textiles as a new carbon-free and binder-free cathode system. In this study, the Li-O_2 battery with the CeO_2@NiCo_2O_4 NWAs has exhibited much reduced overpotentials, a high discharge capacity, an improved cycling stability,outperforming the Li-O_2 battery with NiCo_2O_4 NWAs. These improvements can be attributed to both the tailored morphology of discharge product and improved oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction(OER) activity after CeO_2 NPs deposition. To a considerable extent, this idea of cathode construction including structure design and composition optimization can provide guidance for further researches in developing more powerful cathode for Li-O_2 battery.

Decorating carbon nanofibers with Mo_2C nanoparticles towards hierarchically porous and highly catalytic cathode for high-performance Li-O_2 batteries

A facile synthesis of the hierarchically porous cathode with Mo2C nanoparticles through the electrospinning technique and heat treatment is proposed. The carbonization temperature of the precursors is the key factor for the formation of M02C nanoparticles on the carbon nanofibers （MCNFs）. Compared with the Mo2N nanoparticles embedded into N-doped carbon nanofibers film （MNNFs） and N-doped carbon nanofibers film （NFs）, the battery with MCNFs cathode is capable of operation with a high-capacity （10,509 mAhg-1 at 100 mAg-l）, a much reduced discharge-charge voltage gap, and a long-term life （124 cycles at 200 mA g-1 with a specific capacity limit of 500 mAh g -1）. These excellent performances are derived from the synergy of the following advantageous factors： （1） the hierarchically self-standing and binder-free structure of MCNFs could ensure the high diffusion flux of Li＋ and O2 as well as avoid clogging of the discharge product, bulk Li202; （2） the well dispersed M02C nanoparticles not only afford rich active sites, but also facilitate the electronic transfer for catalysis.

A gauge theory for two-band model of Chern insulators and induced topological defects

In this paper a gauge theory is proposed for the two-band model of Chern insulators.Based on the so-calle't Hooft monopole model,a U(1)Maxwell electromagnetic sub-field is constructed from an SU(2)gauge field,from which arise two types of topological defects,monopoles and e2 merons.We focus on the topological number in the Hall conductance σ_(xy)=e^(2)/hC,where C is the Chern number.It is discovered that in the monopole case C is indeterminate,while in the meron case C takes different values,due to a varying on-site energy m.As a typical example,we apply this method to the square lattice and compute the winding numbers(topological charges)of the defects;the C-evaluations we obtain reproduce the results of the usual literature.Furthermore,based on the gauge theory we propose a new model to obtain the high Chern numbers|C|=2,4.