Overview
Background
Dr Cheng Zhang is an innovative Research Fellow supported by both ARC and NHMRC. He has an outstanding track record in the fields of fluoropolymers, polymer chemistry and materials science. He has made significant contributions to these fields of research through innovative chemistry to build precise fluoropolymer structures and subsequent molecular-level characterisation to understand the structure-property relationship for specific applications including from energy materials e.g. solid electrolytes, sorbent materials for environmental PFAS remediation, to functional biomaterials e.g. imaging and therapeutic agents. Please read more here at the Zhang Group.
Availability
- Dr Cheng Zhang is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Fluorinated compounds
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Polymeric biomaterials for disease detection and treatment
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NMR and MRI of polymers
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Solid fluoropolymer electrolytes
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PFAS remediation
Research impacts
Dr Zhang's research aims to promote polymer chemistry and its value to society by understanding structure-property relationships to develop novel functional polymeric platforms rapidly. An important way for achieving such a vision is to deliver academic excellence toward social engagement and global impact through industrial collaborations. Over the past five years, he has initiated and maintained great industrial connections with world-leading companies and local city councils, for example, working with Chemours and the City of Gold Coast to advance PFAS capture technologies, and collaborating with Lyndra Therapeutics Inc. to develop new oral drugs for facilitating PFAS elimination from humans. He has published over 90 journal articles, including Nature Materials, Nature Reviews Materials, Chemical Reviews, Journal of the American Chemical Society, ACS Nano, Macromolecules and etc, attracting over 4,000 citations (Google Scholar). He has also successfully secured over $6 M in external grants to support his research in related fields.
His research has achieved positive impacts on the community and has led to commercial, environmental and industrial benefits. He is the inventor and key driver of developing novel fluorinated polymeric devices for removing PFAS from environments (capture of fluorinated carbon compounds, WO2020160626A1). The invention delivers an easy-to-use and reusable highly fluorinated polymer-based device for efficient and selective removal of all classes of PFAS from various contaminated sources. In addition to patent protection, a commercialisation strategy for the invention is currently being developed together with Chemours and UniQuest. In 2021, he has been awarded the Fresh scientist to broadcast my PFAS research to the general public. This provides a great pathway for me to introduce PFAS to the community and builds public awareness of the links between adverse health effects and PFAS.
Awards
2024 CSIRO ON Prime Facilitator Prize
2024 PMSE Early Investigator Award.
2023 Young Tall Poppy Science Award.
2023 ACS Materials AU Rising Star.
2022 UQ Industry Engagement Award.
Works
Search Professor Cheng Zhang’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Multifunctional fluoropolymer‐engineered magnetic nanoparticles to facilitate blood‐brain barrier penetration and effective gene silencing in medulloblastoma
Forgham, Helen, Zhu, Jiayuan, Huang, Xumin, Zhang, Cheng, Biggs, Heather, Liu, Liwei, Wang, Yi Cheng, Fletcher, Nicholas, Humphries, James, Cowin, Gary, Mardon, Karine, Kavallaris, Maria, Thurecht, Kristofer, Davis, Thomas P. and Qiao, Ruirui (2024). Multifunctional fluoropolymer‐engineered magnetic nanoparticles to facilitate blood‐brain barrier penetration and effective gene silencing in medulloblastoma. Advanced Science, 11 (25) 2401340, 1-20. doi: 10.1002/advs.202401340
2024
Journal Article
Ni-rich cathode materials for stable high-energy lithium-ion batteries
Wu, Zhenzhen, Zhang, Cheng, Yuan, Fangfang, Lyu, Miaoqiang, Yang, Pan, Zhang, Lei, Zhou, Ming, Wang, Liang, Zhang, Shanqing and Wang, Lianzhou (2024). Ni-rich cathode materials for stable high-energy lithium-ion batteries. Nano Energy, 126 109620, 1-28. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2024.109620
2024
Journal Article
Rapid generation of well‐defined biodegradable poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) libraries through chromatographic separation
Shu, Yilei, Pang, Huiwen, Wu, Youzhi, Wang, Yiqing, Huang, Guojun, Zhang, Cheng and Han, Felicity Y. (2024). Rapid generation of well‐defined biodegradable poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) libraries through chromatographic separation. Journal of Polymer Science, 62 (17), 4091-4100. doi: 10.1002/pol.20240238
2024
Journal Article
Engineering electrode microstructures for advanced lithium-ion batteries
Chen, Zhou and Zhang, Cheng (2024). Engineering electrode microstructures for advanced lithium-ion batteries. Microstructures, 4 (3) 2024033. doi: 10.20517/microstructures.2023.89
2024
Journal Article
Enhancing performance and longevity of solid-state zinc-iodine batteries with fluorine-rich solid electrolyte interphase
Huang, Yongxin, Wang, Yiqing, Peng, Xiyue, Lin, Tongen, Huang, Xia, Alghamdi, Norah S., Rana, Masud, Chen, Peng, Zhang, Cheng, Whittaker, Andrew K., Wang, Lianzhou and Luo, Bin (2024). Enhancing performance and longevity of solid-state zinc-iodine batteries with fluorine-rich solid electrolyte interphase. Materials Futures, 3 (3) 035102. doi: 10.1088/2752-5724/ad50f1
2024
Journal Article
Chromatographic separation: A versatile strategy to prepare discrete and well-defined polymer libraries
Murphy, Elizabeth A., Zhang, Cheng, Bates, Christopher M. and Hawker, Craig J. (2024). Chromatographic separation: A versatile strategy to prepare discrete and well-defined polymer libraries. Accounts of Chemical Research, 57 (8), 1202-1213. doi: 10.1021/acs.accounts.4c00059
2024
Journal Article
Fluorination in advanced battery design
Wang, Yiqing, Wu, Zhenzhen, Azad, Faezeh Makhlooghi, Zhu, Yutong, Wang, Lianzhou, Hawker, Craig J., Whittaker, Andrew K., Forsyth, Maria and Zhang, Cheng (2024). Fluorination in advanced battery design. Nature Reviews Materials, 9 (2), 119-133. doi: 10.1038/s41578-023-00623-4
2024
Journal Article
Accelerated discovery and mapping of block copolymer phase diagrams
Murphy, Elizabeth A., Skala, Stephen J., Kottage, Dimagi, Kohl, Phillip A., Li, Youli, Zhang, Cheng, Hawker, Craig J. and Bates, Christopher M. (2024). Accelerated discovery and mapping of block copolymer phase diagrams. Physical Review Materials, 8 (1) 015602, 1-10. doi: 10.1103/physrevmaterials.8.015602
2024
Journal Article
Tailored fluorosurfactants through controlled/living radical polymerization for highly stable microfluidic droplet generation
Li, Xiangke, Tang, Shi‐Yang, Zhang, Yang, Zhu, Jiayuan, Forgham, Helen, Zhao, Chun‐Xia, Zhang, Cheng, Davis, Thomas P. and Qiao, Ruirui (2024). Tailored fluorosurfactants through controlled/living radical polymerization for highly stable microfluidic droplet generation. Angewandte Chemie, 136 (3) e202315552, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/ange.202315552
2023
Journal Article
Tailored fluorosurfactants through controlled/living radical polymerization for highly stable microfluidic droplet generation
Li, Xiangke, Tang, Shi-Yang, Zhang, Yang, Zhu, Jiayuan, Forgham, Helen, Zhao, Chun-Xia, Zhang, Cheng, Davis, Thomas P. and Qiao, Ruirui (2023). Tailored fluorosurfactants through controlled/living radical polymerization for highly stable microfluidic droplet generation. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 63 (3) e202315552, e202315552. doi: 10.1002/anie.202315552
2023
Journal Article
Advancing PFAS sorbent design: mechanisms, challenges, and perspectives
He, Yutong, Cheng, Xinrong, Gunjal, Samruddhi Jayendra and Zhang, Cheng (2023). Advancing PFAS sorbent design: mechanisms, challenges, and perspectives. ACS Materials Au, 4 (2), 108-114. doi: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.3c00066
2023
Journal Article
Investigation the performance of the recompression Brayton cycle with different N2O-based binary mixtures for a nuclear power spacecraft
Miao, Xinyu, Zhang, Haochun, Zhao, Shuting, Zhang, Cheng and Xia, Yan (2023). Investigation the performance of the recompression Brayton cycle with different N2O-based binary mixtures for a nuclear power spacecraft. Applied Thermal Engineering, 231 120918, 120918. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2023.120918
2023
Journal Article
Relationship between infrared spectral emissivity and temperature distribution of thermophotovoltaic systems
Pan, QingHui, Chen, ShuNi, Zhang, Cheng, Zhou, SiHong, Guo, YanMing and Shuai, Yong (2023). Relationship between infrared spectral emissivity and temperature distribution of thermophotovoltaic systems. Applied Thermal Engineering, 230 (Part B) 120857, 120857. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2023.120857
2023
Journal Article
Comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of He–Xe in microchannels with different structures
Sun, Zijian, Zhang, Haochun, Sun, Qiqi and Zhang, Cheng (2023). Comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of He–Xe in microchannels with different structures. Energies, 16 (8) 3322, 3322. doi: 10.3390/en16083322
2023
Journal Article
Performance analysis of thermal cloak with porous silicon structure
Zhang, Jian, Zhang, Haochun, Zhao, Zhuo, Li, Yiyi and Zhang, Cheng (2023). Performance analysis of thermal cloak with porous silicon structure. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 143 106730. doi: 10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2023.106730
2023
Journal Article
Bioinspired separator with ion-selective nanochannels for lithium metal batteries
Chen, Yi, Mickel, Philip, Pei, Huijie, Wen, Yingfeng, Guan, Xin, Wang, Yun, Wang, Xuyang, Mhtachem, Omar Al, Zhang, Cheng, Nie, Hui, Zhou, Xingping, Kral, Petr and Xie, Xiaolin (2023). Bioinspired separator with ion-selective nanochannels for lithium metal batteries. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 15 (14), 18333-18342. doi: 10.1021/acsami.3c01311
2022
Journal Article
Efficient removal of perfluorinated chemicals from contaminated water sources using magnetic fluorinated polymer sorbents
Tan, Xiao, Dewapriya, Pradeep, Prasad, Pritesh, Chang, Yixin, Huang, Xumin, Wang, Yiqing, Gong, Xiaokai, Hopkins, Timothy E., Fu, Changkui, Thomas, Kevin V., Peng, Hui, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Zhang, Cheng (2022). Efficient removal of perfluorinated chemicals from contaminated water sources using magnetic fluorinated polymer sorbents. Angewandte Chemie, 134 (49) e202213071, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/ange.202213071
2022
Journal Article
A Hydrophobic and Fluorophilic Coating Layer for Stable and Reversible Aqueous Zinc Metal Anodes
Tao, Shiwei, Zhang, Cheng, Zhang, Jincan, Jiao, Yalong, Li, Ming, Lin, Weikang, Ran, Lingbing, Clement, Benoit, Lyu, Miaoqiang, Gentle, Ian, Wang, Lianzhou and Knibbe, Ruth (2022). A Hydrophobic and Fluorophilic Coating Layer for Stable and Reversible Aqueous Zinc Metal Anodes. Chemical Engineering Journal, 446 136607, 136607. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2022.136607
2022
Journal Article
Efficient creation and morphological analysis of ABC triblock terpolymer libraries
Murphy, Elizabeth A., Chen, Yan-Qiao, Albanese, Kaitlin, Blankenship, Jacob R., Abdilla, Allison, Bates, Morgan W., Zhang, Cheng, Bates, Christopher M. and Hawker, Craig J. (2022). Efficient creation and morphological analysis of ABC triblock terpolymer libraries. Macromolecules, 55 (19), 8875-8882. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c01480
2022
Journal Article
Elucidating the impact of hydrophilic segments on 19F MRI sensitivity of fluorinated block copolymers
Wang, Yiqing, Tan, Xiao, Usman, Adil, Zhang, Yuhao, Sawczyk, Michał, Král, Petr, Zhang, Cheng and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2022). Elucidating the impact of hydrophilic segments on 19F MRI sensitivity of fluorinated block copolymers. ACS Macro Letters, 11 (10), 1195-1201. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.2c00414
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Cheng Zhang is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Removal of Perfluorinated Chemicals PFAS Using New Fluorinated Polymer Sorbents
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of highly persistent chemicals that are linked to a number of human diseases, however existing approaches for removal of PFAS are highly inefficient. This project aims to develop and evaluate novel, reusable polymer sorbents for effective PFAS removal. The polymer sorbents will enable efficient, selective and continuous sorption of PFAS, while maintaining excellent environmental stability for long-term implementation in practical devices. The project will develop novel polymer sorbents to revolutionize the remediation of PFAS with high technical, economic and environmental feasibility, creating a pathway to a PFAS-free world, and ultimately protecting the natural environment.
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Preparation of Highly Effective and Versatile Discrete Molecular Transporters for the Delivery of Drugs and Probes
The design and development of new agents that enable or enhance the passage of drugs and probes across biological barriers is a goal of unsurpassed significance in the search for improved imaging molecules, diagnostics and therapies. However, the development of highly-effective molecular transporters is hindered by current synthetic strategies. As such, it is critical to be able to prepare novel monodisperse molecular transporters (Ð=1) with precise structures, compositions, and function, which are essential for their special and unique transport properties. In this project, a versatile and scalable strategy for the preparation of discrete (monodisperse) materials will be developed. This approach enables the combination of facile polymerization procedures and ubiquitous purification processes. Different types of well-defined oligomers with different charges will be synthesized and their interaction and internalization with cells will be further demonstrated.
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19F MRI Imaging Agents for Disease Detection
The aim of this project is to develop new magnetic resonance (MR) molecular imaging strategies that will enable the in vivo monitoring of biological processes. Specifically, we will develop novel fluorinated polymers for imaging of early markers of diseases such as melanoma, prostate cancer, malignant glioma and Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, the project involves the synthesis of new partly-fluorinated polymers having controlled architecture for the rapidly developing field of 19F MRI. Other imaging modalities, drugs and targeting ligands will be conjugated. The project aims to relate the structure of the macromolecules, determined carefully using advanced techniques such as NMR, light scattering, GPC, AFM and electron microscopy, to the performance as imaging agents. The agents will be tested in small animal (mouse) models of disease already developed by this group and our collaborators.
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High-Resolution Imaging Technologies for Advanced Battery Design
This project aims to advance the development of long-lasting sustainable batteries by innovating new polymer electrolyte additives and incorporating new imaging techniques. The use of polymer additives is one of the most economical approaches for improving battery performance. However, polymers prepared using modern techniques have a broad range of physical properties and chemical structures, obscuring how their design principles are understood. This project expects to tackle these challenges by developing a new method for producing truly discrete new polymers. The expected outcomes are new knowledge in polymer electrolytes and imaging which will result in more efficient and reliable batteries. This provides significant benefits to polymer science and Australia’s renewable battery industry.
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Removal of Perfluorinated Chemicals PFAS Using New Fluorinated Polymer Sorbents
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of highly persistent chemicals that are linked to a number of human diseases, however existing approaches for removal of PFAS are highly inefficient. This project aims to develop and evaluate novel, reusable polymer sorbents for effective PFAS removal. The polymer sorbents will enable efficient, selective and continuous sorption of PFAS, while maintaining excellent environmental stability for long-term implementation in practical devices. The project will develop novel polymer sorbents to revolutionize the remediation of PFAS with high technical, economic and environmental feasibility, creating a pathway to a PFAS-free world, and ultimately protecting the natural environment.
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Preparation of Highly Effective and Versatile Discrete Molecular Transporters for the Delivery of Drugs and Probes
The design and development of new agents that enable or enhance the passage of drugs and probes across biological barriers is a goal of unsurpassed significance in the search for improved imaging molecules, diagnostics and therapies. However, the development of highly-effective molecular transporters is hindered by current synthetic strategies. As such, it is critical to be able to prepare novel monodisperse molecular transporters (Ð=1) with precise structures, compositions, and function, which are essential for their special and unique transport properties. In this project, a versatile and scalable strategy for the preparation of discrete (monodisperse) materials will be developed. This approach enables the combination of facile polymerization procedures and ubiquitous purification processes. Different types of well-defined oligomers with different charges will be synthesized and their interaction and internalization with cells will be further demonstrated.
-
19F MRI Imaging Agents for Disease Detection
The aim of this project is to develop new magnetic resonance (MR) molecular imaging strategies that will enable the in vivo monitoring of biological processes. Specifically, we will develop novel fluorinated polymers for imaging of early markers of diseases such as melanoma, prostate cancer, malignant glioma and Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, the project involves the synthesis of new partly-fluorinated polymers having controlled architecture for the rapidly developing field of 19F MRI. Other imaging modalities, drugs and targeting ligands will be conjugated. The project aims to relate the structure of the macromolecules, determined carefully using advanced techniques such as NMR, light scattering, GPC, AFM and electron microscopy, to the performance as imaging agents. The agents will be tested in small animal (mouse) models of disease already developed by this group and our collaborators.
-
High-Resolution Imaging Technologies for Advanced Battery Design
This project aims to advance the development of long-lasting sustainable batteries by innovating new polymer electrolyte additives and incorporating new imaging techniques. The use of polymer additives is one of the most economical approaches for improving battery performance. However, polymers prepared using modern techniques have a broad range of physical properties and chemical structures, obscuring how their design principles are understood. This project expects to tackle these challenges by developing a new method for producing truly discrete new polymers. The expected outcomes are new knowledge in polymer electrolytes and imaging which will result in more efficient and reliable batteries. This provides significant benefits to polymer science and Australia’s renewable battery industry.
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Developing novel imaging tool for monitoring PFAS
This project aims to innovate and evaluate novel imaging technologies for the sensitive detection, visualization, and quantification of PFAS.
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Surface engineering of polymer sorbents for efficient PFAS capture
This project will innovate and evaluate novel and reusable ion-exchange resins enabling superior efficient, selective and continuous sorption of PFAS, while maintaining excellent environmental stability for long-term implementation of PFAS capture.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the role of fluorine in advanced energy applications
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Dr Felicity Han
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Doctor Philosophy
Next-generation polymer-based solid electrolytes for advanced batteries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Debra Bernhardt
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Master Philosophy
Surface engineering of polymer sorbents for efficient PFAS capture
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Felicity Han
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Doctor Philosophy
Highly efficient, selective and reusable technology for long-term implementation of PFAS capture
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Dr Pradeep Dewapriya
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel Anode Protection Technology for Advanced Batteries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lianzhou Wang
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Doctor Philosophy
Fluoropolymeric Ionic Conductors for Battery Technologues
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker
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Doctor Philosophy
Electrolytes and Interfaces in Rechargeable Batteries
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephen Sanderson, Professor Debra Bernhardt
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Doctor Philosophy
New biomedical imaging tools using nanotechnology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Thomas Davis, Dr Ruirui Qiao
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-Containing Polymeric Devices for Efficient Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Water Sources
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hui Peng, Dr Changkui Fu, Professor Andrew Whittaker
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Fluorinated Hydrogels as Advanced Drug Delivery Systems for Monitoring Drug Release
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hui Peng, Professor Andrew Whittaker
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting hypoxic cancer stem cells with nanoparticles
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Dr Wenyi Gu, Associate Professor Barbara Rolfe
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Cheng Zhang directly for media enquiries about:
- PFAS
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