Tunable topological phase transition in soft Rayleigh beam system with imperfect interfaces

Acoustic metamaterials, particularly the topological insulators, exhibit exceptional wave characteristics that have sparked considerable research interest. The study of imperfect interfaces affect is of significant importance for the modeling of wave propagation behavior in topological insulators. This paper models a soft Rayleigh beam system with imperfect interfaces, and investigates its topological phase transition process tuned by mechanical loadings. The model reveals that the topological phase transition process can be observed by modifying the distance between imperfect interfaces in the system. When a uniaxial stretch is applied, the topological phase transition points for longitudinal waves decrease within a limited frequency range, while they increase within a larger frequency scope for transverse waves. Enhancing the rigidity of the imperfect interfaces also enables shifting of the topological phase transition point within a broader frequency range for longitudinal waves and a confined range for transverse waves. The transition of topologically protected interface modes in the transmission performance of a twenty-cell system is verified, which include altering frequencies, switching from interface mode to edge mode. Overall, this study provides a new approach and guideline for controlling topological phase transition in composite and soft phononic crystal systems.Comment: 39 pages,8 figure

Enhancement of Mass Transfer Process for Photocatalytic Reduction in Cr(VI) by Electric Field Assistance

The removal of Cr(VI), a highly-toxic heavy metal, from industrial wastewater is a critical issue in water treatment research. Photocatalysis, a promising technology to solve the Cr(VI) pollution problem, requires urgent and continuous improvement to enhance its performance. To address this need, an electric field-assisted photocatalytic system (PCS) was proposed to meet the growing demand for industrial wastewater treatment. Firstly, we selected PAF-54, a nitrogen-rich porous organic polymer, as the PCS’s catalytic material. PAF-54 exhibits a large adsorption capacity (189 mg/g) for Cr(VI) oxyanions through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction. It was then coated on carbon paper (CP) and used as the photocatalytic electrode. The synergy between capacitive deionization (CDI) and photocatalysis significantly promotes the photoreduction of Cr(VI). The photocatalytic performance was enhanced due to the electric field’s influence on the mass transfer process, which could strengthen the enrichment of Cr(VI) oxyanions and the repulsion of Cr(III) cations on the surface of PAF-54/CP electrode. In addition, the PCS system demonstrates excellent recyclability and stability, making it a promising candidate for chromium wastewater treatment