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
2022
Journal Article
Fast design and optimization method for an ultra-wideband perfect absorber based on artificial neural network acceleration
Zhou, Sihong, Qiu, Jun, Zhang, Cheng, Guo, Yanming, Pan, Qinghui, Zhou, Qian and Shuai, Yong (2022). Fast design and optimization method for an ultra-wideband perfect absorber based on artificial neural network acceleration. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 179 107680, 107680. doi: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2022.107680
2022
Journal Article
Supramolecular chiral assembly of symmetric molecules with an extended conjugated core
Wu, Jindiao, Zhang, Jianan, Liu, Yanjun, Wang, Jun, Zhang, Cheng, Yan, Jiatao, Li, Wen, Masuda, Toshio, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Zhang, Afang (2022). Supramolecular chiral assembly of symmetric molecules with an extended conjugated core. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 14 (29), 33734-33745. doi: 10.1021/acsami.2c09752
2022
Journal Article
Pt nanoenzyme decorated yolk-shell nanoplatform as an oxygen generator for enhanced multi-modality imaging-guided phototherapy
Yan, Kai, Mu, Chenglong, Zhang, Cheng, Xu, Qunna, Xu, Zushun, Wang, Daquan, Jing, Xunan and Meng, Lingjie (2022). Pt nanoenzyme decorated yolk-shell nanoplatform as an oxygen generator for enhanced multi-modality imaging-guided phototherapy. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 616, 759-768. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.02.042
2022
Journal Article
Fluorine in medicinal chemistry: in perspective to COVID-19
Zhang, Cheng (2022). Fluorine in medicinal chemistry: in perspective to COVID-19. ACS Omega, 7 (22), 18206-18212. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01121
2022
Journal Article
Design and optimization of mid-infrared hot electron detector based on Al/GaAs fishnet nanostructure for CO2 sensing
Zhou, Sihong, Guo, Yanming, Zhang, Cheng, Pan, Qinghui, Zhou, Qian and Shuai, Yong (2022). Design and optimization of mid-infrared hot electron detector based on Al/GaAs fishnet nanostructure for CO2 sensing. Applied Optics, 61 (15), 4270-4277. doi: 10.1364/AO.456247
2021
Other Outputs
Ultra-stable all-solid-state sodium-metal batteries enabled by perfluoropolyether-based electrolytes
WANG, Xiaoen, Zhang, Cheng, Sawczyk, Michal, Yuan, Qinghong, Chen, Fangfang, Mendes, Tiago, Howlett, Patrick, Fu, Changkui, Searles, Debra J., Kral, Petr, Hawker, Craig, Whittaker, Andrew and Forsyth, Maria (2021). Ultra-stable all-solid-state sodium-metal batteries enabled by perfluoropolyether-based electrolytes. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-354912/v2
2021
Other Outputs
Ultra-stable all-solid-state sodium-metal batteries enabled by perfluoropolyether-based electrolytes
WANG, Xiaoen, Zhang, Cheng, Sawczyk, Michal, Yuan, Qinghong, Chen, Fangfang, Mendes, Tiago, Howlett, Patrick, Fu, Changkui, Searles, Debra, Kral, Petr, Hawker, Craig, Whittaker, Andrew and Forsyth, Maria (2021). Ultra-stable all-solid-state sodium-metal batteries enabled by perfluoropolyether-based electrolytes. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-354912/v1
2021
Journal Article
Amphiphilic perfluoropolyether copolymers for the effective removal of polyfluoroalkyl substances from aqueous environments
Tan, Xiao, Zhong, Jiexi, Fu, Changkui, Dang, Huy, Han, Yanxiao, Král, Petr, Guo, Jianhua, Yuan, Zhiguo, Peng, Hui, Zhang, Cheng and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2021). Amphiphilic perfluoropolyether copolymers for the effective removal of polyfluoroalkyl substances from aqueous environments. Macromolecules, 54 (7) acs.macromol.1c00096, 3447-3457. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00096
2021
Journal Article
Tuning the thermoresponsive properties of PEG-based fluorinated polymers and stimuli responsive drug release for switchable 19F magnetic resonance imaging
Usman, Adil, Zhang, Cheng, Zhao, Jiacheng, Peng, Hui, Kurniawan, Nyoman D., Fu, Changkui, Hill, David J. T. and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2021). Tuning the thermoresponsive properties of PEG-based fluorinated polymers and stimuli responsive drug release for switchable 19F magnetic resonance imaging. Polymer Chemistry, 12 (38), 5438-5448. doi: 10.1039/d1py00602a
2020
Journal Article
Architecture effects in complex spherical assemblies of (AB)n-type block copolymers
Barbon, Stephanie M., Song, Jung-Ah, Chen, Duyu, Zhang, Cheng, Lequieu, Joshua, Delaney, Kris T., Anastasaki, Athina, Rolland, Manon, Fredrickson, Glenn H., Bates, Morgan W., Hawker, Craig J. and Bates, Christopher M. (2020). Architecture effects in complex spherical assemblies of (AB)n-type block copolymers. ACS Macro Letters, 9 (12), 1745-1752. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00704
2020
Journal Article
Correction to High F-content perfluoropolyether-based nanoparticles for targeted detection of breast cancer by 19F magnetic resonance and optical imaging
Zhang, Cheng, Moonshi, Shehzahdi Shebbrin, Wang, Wenqian, Ta, Hang Thu, Han, Yanxiao, Han, Felicity Y., Peng, Hui, Král, Petr, Rolfe, Barbara E., Gooding, J. Justin, Gaus, Katharina and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2020). Correction to High F-content perfluoropolyether-based nanoparticles for targeted detection of breast cancer by 19F magnetic resonance and optical imaging. ACS Nano, 14 (10), 14245-14246. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.0c07373
2020
Journal Article
Functional polymers as metal-free magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents
Fu, Changkui, Yu, Ye, Xu, Xin, Wang, Qiaoyun, Chang, Yixin, Zhang, Cheng, Zhao, Jiacheng, Peng, Hui and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2020). Functional polymers as metal-free magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. Progress in Polymer Science, 108 101286, 1-24. doi: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2020.101286
2020
Journal Article
Sulfoxide‐containing polymer‐coated nanoparticles demonstrate minimal protein fouling and improved blood circulation
Qiao, Ruirui, Fu, Changkui, Li, Yuhuan, Qi, Xiaole, Ni, Dalong, Nandakumar, Aparna, Siddiqui, Ghizal, Wang, Haiyan, Zhang, Zheng, Wu, Tingting, Zhong, Jian, Tang, Shi‐Yang, Pan, Shuaijun, Zhang, Cheng, Whittaker, Michael R., Engle, Jonathan W., Creek, Darren J., Caruso, Frank, Ke, Pu Chun, Cai, Weibo, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Davis, Thomas P. (2020). Sulfoxide‐containing polymer‐coated nanoparticles demonstrate minimal protein fouling and improved blood circulation. Advanced Science, 7 (13) 2000406, 2000406. doi: 10.1002/advs.202000406
2020
Journal Article
Sodium-ion storage mechanism in triquinoxalinylene and a strategy for improving electrode stability
Zhao, Qinglan, Zhao, Wei, Zhang, Cheng, Wu, Yilan, Yuan, Qinghong, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Zhao, X. S. (2020). Sodium-ion storage mechanism in triquinoxalinylene and a strategy for improving electrode stability. Energy and Fuels, 34 (4) acs.energyfuels.0c00798, 5099-5105. doi: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.0c00798
2020
Journal Article
Low-fouling fluoropolymers for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking
Fu, Changkui, Demir, Baris, Alcantara, Sheilajen, Kumar, Vinod, Han, Felicity, Kelly, Hannah, Tan, Xiao, Yu, Ye, Xu, Weizhi, Zhao, Jiacheng, Zhang, Cheng, Peng, Hui, Boyer, Cyrille, Woodruff, Trent, Kent, Stephen, Searles, Debra and Whittaker, Andrew (2020). Low-fouling fluoropolymers for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 59 (12), 4729-4735. doi: 10.1002/anie.201914119
2020
Journal Article
Synthesis and Self-Assembly of ABn Miktoarm Star Polymers
Bates, Morgan W., Barbon, Stephanie M., Levi, Adam E., Lewis, Ronald M., Beech, Haley K., Vonk, Kasper M., Zhang, Cheng, Fredrickson, Glenn H., Hawker, Craig J. and Bates, Christopher M. (2020). Synthesis and Self-Assembly of ABn Miktoarm Star Polymers. ACS Macro Letters, 9 (3), 396-403. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00061
2020
Journal Article
Low‐fouling fluoropolymers for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking
Fu, Changkui, Demir, Baris, Alcantara, Sheilajen, Kumar, Vinod, Han, Felicity, Kelly, Hannah G., Tan, Xiao, Yu, Ye, Xu, Weizhi, Zhao, Jiacheng, Zhang, Cheng, Peng, Hui, Boyer, Cyrille, Woodruff, Trent M., Kent, Stephen J., Searles, Debra J. and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2020). Low‐fouling fluoropolymers for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking. Angewandte Chemie, 132 (12), 4759-4765. doi: 10.1002/ange.201914119
2020
Journal Article
Carbon dots embedded metal organic framework @ chitosan core-shell nanoparticles for vitro dual mode imaging and pH-responsive drug delivery
Lin, Caixue, Sun, Keke, Zhang, Cheng, Tan, Tingyuan, Xu, Yueming, Liu, Yana, Xu, Chen, Wang, Yingxi, Li, Ling and Whittaker, Andrew (2020). Carbon dots embedded metal organic framework @ chitosan core-shell nanoparticles for vitro dual mode imaging and pH-responsive drug delivery. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 293 109775, 109775. doi: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2019.109775
2020
Journal Article
“Dual-Key-and-Lock” dual drug carrier for dual mode imaging guided chemo-photothermal therapy
Tian, Feng, Chi, Bin, Xu, Chen, Lin, Caixue, Xu, Zushun, Whittaker, Andrew K., Zhang, Cheng, Li, Ling and Wang, Jing (2020). “Dual-Key-and-Lock” dual drug carrier for dual mode imaging guided chemo-photothermal therapy. Biomaterials Science, 8 (22), 6212-6224. doi: 10.1039/d0bm01400a
2019
Journal Article
Magnetic and photocatalytic curcumin bound carbon nitride nanohybrids for enhanced glioma cell death
Yadav, Pranjali, Zhang, Cheng, Whittaker, Andrew K., Kailasam, Kamalakannan and Shanavas, Asifkhan (2019). Magnetic and photocatalytic curcumin bound carbon nitride nanohybrids for enhanced glioma cell death. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 5 (12) acsbiomaterials.9b01224, 6590-6601. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b01224
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Cheng Zhang is:
- Available for supervision
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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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