[en] In this study, it was found that uniquely ordered lattice field favors transport of carriers but hinder that of phonons. The n-Bi₂Se_0.5Te_2.5 pillar array film was successfully achieved by a simple ion beam assisted deposition technique. This oriented pillar array structure is clear with pillar diameter of about 30 nm, exhibiting a uniquely ordered lattice field. The properties of the ordered Bi₂Se_0.5Te_2.5 pillar array were greatly enhanced in comparison with those of the ordinary film. The Bi₂Se_0.5Te_2.5 pillar array with a thermoelectric dimensionless figure-of-merit ZT=1.28 was obtained at room temperature. The in-plane transport mechanisms of the ordered pillar array and the ordinary structures, lattice field model, are proposed and investigated. The specially ordered lattice field is the main reason for the properties enhancement observed in the Bi₂Se_0.5Te_2.5 film. Introduction of such ordered lattice field into TE films is therefore a very promising approach. - Graphical abstract: In this study, it was found that uniquely ordered lattice field favors transport of carriers but hinder that of phonons. The Bi₂Se_0.5Te_2.5 pillar array film with a thermoelectric dimensionless figure-of-merit ZT=1.28 was obtained at room temperature. The in-plane transport mechanisms of the ordered pillar array and the ordinary structures, the lattice field model, are proposed and investigated. The specially ordered lattice field is the main reason for the properties enhancement observed in the Bi₂Se_0.5Te_2.5 pillar array. Introduction of such uniquely ordered lattice field into TE films is therefore a very promising approach. In (a) TEM and (b) HRTEM images of the ordered Bi₂Se_0.5Te_2.5 column array. - Highlights: • Uniquely ordered Bi₂Se_0.5Te_2.5 pillar array was achieved by an IBAD method. • The pillar array with an ordered lattice field exhibits attractive TE property. • The transport mechanism of such ordered pillar array is proposed and investigated. • Introduction of such ordered lattice field into film is a very promising approach

[en] We investigate the impact of a time-reversal invariant external field on the topological phases of a three-dimensional (3D) topological insulator. By taking the momentum k _z as a parameter, we calculate the spin-Chern number analytically. It is shown that both the quantum spin Hall phase and the integer quantum Hall phase can be realized in our system. When the strength of the external field is varied, a series of topological phase transitions occurs with the closing of the energy gap or the spin-spectrum gap. In a tight-binding form, the surface modes are discussed numerically to confirm the analytically results. (paper)

[en] Aluminum ablation by multiple femtosecond laser pulses is investigated via time-resolved shadowgraphs and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the ablation spot. The spatial distribution of the ejected material and the radius of the shock wave generated during the ablation are found to vary with the increase in the number of pulses. In the initial two pulses, nearly concentric and semicircular stripes within the shock wave front are observed, unlike in subsequent pulses. Ablation by multiple femtosecond pulses exhibits different characteristics compared with the case induced by single femtosecond pulse because of the changes to the aluminum target surface induced by the preceding pulses. (paper)