
Overview
Background
Prof. Dr Zhigang Chen is currently an Honorary Professor in the School of Mechanical & Mining Engineering, the University of Queensland, and a founding director for the ARC Research Hub in Zero-emission Power Generation for Carbon Neutrality (ZeroPC), ARC Future Fellow, Academic Reseach Lead, and a Capacity Building Professor of Energy Materials at the School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Dr Chen received his PhD from the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2008 under the supervision of Professor Hui-Ming Cheng, and Professor Gaoqing (Max) Lu. His research focuses on thermoelectrics for power generation and cooling; next-generation optoelectronic devices and functional System; topological insulators for next-generation chips; and high-speed sensors. In total, Dr Chen received ~A$40,000,000 in research grants to support the research, including one prestigious UQ postdoctoral fellowship (2009), ARC APD Fellowship (2009), five ARC Discovery Grants (four as lead CI, one as ARC APD fellowship, and one as ARC Future Fellowship), two ARC Research hub, four ARC Linkage Grant (one as lead CI), four ARC LIEF Grant, >10 Industry Investments (eight as sole CI), two Queensland Smart Futures Funds (sole CI), and >10 University Grants. Currently, Dr Chen is leading one ARC Research Hub, two ARC discovery projects, one sub project at ARC Research Hub, one ARC Linkage project, and four industry investments. Dr Chen is one Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (Top 0.1% researcher in the world). He has authored over 330 high-impact journal publications including 1 Nature Energy, 1 Nature Nanotechnology; 3 Nature Communications; 1 Chemical Reviews; 2 Progress in Materials Science; 4 Energy & Environmental Science; 1 Joule; 11 Advanced Materials; and 4 Journal of the American Chemical Society. These publications have attracted >35000 times (Scopus, www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57188708630) and an H index of 70. His google scholar citation is >25,000 with an H index of 100 (https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=vkRX_vgAAAAJ&hl=en). Particularly, in the last three years, Dr Chen has published more than 40 articles per year and attracted over 5,000 citations per year. Dr Chen has delivered over 50 plenary/keynote/invited talks in the international/national conferences. Dr Chen has authored four commercialized patents, which have been attracted industry investments.
Availability
- Honorary Professor Zhi-Gang Chen is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Chinese Academy of Science
Research interests
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Design inexpensive, abundant, low-toxic and high-efficiency thermoelectric nanomaterials
Thermoelectric materials directly convert thermal energy into electrical energy, offering a green and sustainable solution for the global energy dilemma. This proposal aims to develop inexpensive, abundant, and low-toxic thermoelectric nanomaterials for high-efficiency energy conversion using novel industry-level approach, coupled with nanostructure and band engineering strategies.
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Topological Insulators
High-Speed Hard Drive: Topological Insulators Open a Path to Room-Temperature Spintronics
Research impacts
Thermoelectric materials for power generation and cooling
Identifying new approaches to develop energy-saving methods and tap into new renewable energy sources is set to be the greatest challenge of the 21st Century. Thermoelectric (TE) energy is one of the approaches that offers great promise as it can be used in multiple applications for power generation and refrigeration. It can create electricity from waste heat at any scale, it can significantly improve energy efficiency at a medium industrial scale, including significantly improving vehicular weight and emissions, and it can even generate electricity or cooling at the nanoscale. For instance, it could potentially be used to convert body heat into electricity in clothing or to charge a cell phone. The thermoelecric materials developed by Dr Chen have extremely high hopes for this technology.
Topological insulators for high speed chips
Imagine if the "information superhighway" had HOV lanes so that data could be stored, processed and disseminated many times faster than possible with today's electronics. New topological insulators developed by Dr Chen will be used for this new generation devices, such a speedway for future devices, an exotic type of electrical conductor.
Works
Search Professor Zhi-Gang Chen’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Artificial intelligence-driven phase stability evaluation and new dopants identification of hafnium oxide-based ferroelectric materials
Yan, Shaoan, Xu, Pei, Li, Gang, Li, Yuchun, Zhu, Yingfang, Zhu, Xiaona, Yang, Qiong, Li, Meng, Tang, Minghua, Lu, Hongliang, Liu, Sen, Li, Qingjiang, Zhang, David Wei and Chen, Zhigang (2025). Artificial intelligence-driven phase stability evaluation and new dopants identification of hafnium oxide-based ferroelectric materials. npj Computational Materials, 11 (1) 2. doi: 10.1038/s41524-024-01510-4
2025
Journal Article
Bi-addition improves the thermoelectric performance of InSb
Chen, Yixing, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Li, Dou, Zhu, Jiaxi, Li, Meng, Zhang, Lei, Zhang, Zihan, Feng, Zhenyu, Ma, Xiao, Zhong, Hong, Li, Shuangming and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2025). Bi-addition improves the thermoelectric performance of InSb. Acta Materialia, 286 120736, 120736-286. doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2025.120736
2025
Journal Article
Reduced Na–S bond adsorption of WSSe enabling fast reaction kinetics in the sodium-ion battery
Liao, Ya-Ning, Yang, Yan-Ling, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Sun, Yu, He, Chao-Zheng, Qin, Yi, Zhang, Li, Chen, Yue-Feng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2025). Reduced Na–S bond adsorption of WSSe enabling fast reaction kinetics in the sodium-ion battery. Journal of Energy Chemistry, 102, 609-617. doi: 10.1016/j.jechem.2024.10.060
2025
Journal Article
Advances in flexible thermoelectric materials and devices fabricated by magnetron sputtering
Hu, Boxuan, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Cao, Tianyi, Li, Meng, Chen, Wenyi, Liu, Wei-Di, Lyu, Wanyu, Tesfamichael, Tuquabo and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2025). Advances in flexible thermoelectric materials and devices fabricated by magnetron sputtering. Small Science, 5 (3) 2300061, 1-21. doi: 10.1002/smsc.202300061
2025
Journal Article
Preparation of SnO2QDs-g-C3N4/C composites via biotemplate induction and determination for aflatoxin B1
Yu, Qiao Ling, Liu, Cheng Bao, Zheng, Lei Zhi, Qiu, Yong Bin, Meng, Xian Rong and Chen, Zhi Gang (2025). Preparation of SnO2QDs-g-C3N4/C composites via biotemplate induction and determination for aflatoxin B1. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 1020 179398, 179398. doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2025.179398
2025
Journal Article
Advances and Outlooks for Carbon Nanotube‐Based Thermoelectric Materials and Devices
Zhou, Shanshan, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Li, Lan, Liu, Qian, Hu, Boxuan, Chen, Wenyi, Zhang, Chenyang, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2025). Advances and Outlooks for Carbon Nanotube‐Based Thermoelectric Materials and Devices. Advanced Materials. doi: 10.1002/adma.202500947
2025
Journal Article
Highly Off‐Centering Cations in Pavonite‐Structured Ag<sub>1.75</sub>InSb<sub>5.75</sub>Se<sub>11</sub> with Competitive Thermoelectric Performance
Xie, Chenghao, Li, Rongcheng, Xu, Weibin, Jin, Bowen, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Tang, Xinfeng, Tan, Gangjian and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2025). Highly Off‐Centering Cations in Pavonite‐Structured Ag1.75InSb5.75Se11 with Competitive Thermoelectric Performance. Advanced Functional Materials. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202421545
2025
Journal Article
Advancing Ag2Se thin-film thermoelectrics via selenization-driven anisotropy control
Cao, Tianyi, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Hu, Boxuan, Yang, Qishuo, Lyu, Wan-Yu, Sun, Shuai, Yin, Liang-Cao, Liu, Qing-Yi, Chen, Wenyi, Wang, Xiaodong, Liu, Siqi, Li, Meng, Liu, Wei-Di, Tesfamichael, Tuquabo, Liu, Qingfeng, MacLeod, Jennifer and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2025). Advancing Ag2Se thin-film thermoelectrics via selenization-driven anisotropy control. Nature Communications, 16 (1) 1555, 1. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56671-7
2025
Journal Article
Zn/In dual doping enhances the thermoelectric performance of SnTe
Wang, Lijun, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Li, Meng, Li, Lvzhou, Dong, Cuicui, Miao, Pengcheng, Shen, Ziyi, Yuan, NingYi, Ding, Jianningian, Zheng, Shuqi and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2025). Zn/In dual doping enhances the thermoelectric performance of SnTe. Journal of Physics: Materials, 8 (2) 025005, 025005. doi: 10.1088/2515-7639/adb51a
2025
Journal Article
Transient Liquid Induced Hierarchical Structure Contributes to High Thermoelectric Performance in Ag<sub>2</sub>Se
Kitthonbancha, Peeranut, Liu, Wei‐Di, Li, Meng, Pinitsoontorn, Supree and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2025). Transient Liquid Induced Hierarchical Structure Contributes to High Thermoelectric Performance in Ag2Se. Small, 21 (11) 2411798. doi: 10.1002/smll.202411798
2025
Journal Article
Incorporating graphene quantum dots boosts thermoelectric performance of PEDOT:PSS films
Wu, Ting, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Deng, Yu-Yu, Liu, Yuan-Meng, Zhu, Min, Liu, Wei-Di, Li, Meng, Yue, Fang, Huang, Pei, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Liu, Qingfeng (2025). Incorporating graphene quantum dots boosts thermoelectric performance of PEDOT:PSS films. Chemical Engineering Journal, 506 160219, 160219. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2025.160219
2025
Journal Article
Temperature-sensitive ionic hydrogels for dual electric and thermal responsive smart window
Zhao, Li-Li, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Huang, Cong-Huan, Zou, Meng-Ling, Liang, Ming-Yu, Liang, Jie, Kang, Shi-Min, Miao, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2025). Temperature-sensitive ionic hydrogels for dual electric and thermal responsive smart window. Chemical Engineering Journal, 505 158937, 158937-505. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.158937
2025
Journal Article
Advances and challenges in hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric systems for renewable energy
Moshwan, Raza, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Zhang, Min, Yue, Yicheng, Liu, Wei-Di, Li, Meng, Wang, Lijun, Liang, Daniel and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2025). Advances and challenges in hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric systems for renewable energy. Applied Energy, 380 125032, 125032-380. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.125032
2025
Journal Article
Investigating Changes in the Physicochemical and Structural–Functional Properties of Soybean Milk Under an Industry-Scale Microfluidization System
Bao, Meng-xiao, Wang, Jie, Zeng, Yan, Guo, Wen, Li, Zhen, Wu, Yue and Chen, Zhi-gang (2025). Investigating Changes in the Physicochemical and Structural–Functional Properties of Soybean Milk Under an Industry-Scale Microfluidization System. Food and Bioprocess Technology, 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s11947-025-03762-4
2025
Journal Article
Lattice defect engineering advances n-type PbSe thermoelectrics
Deng, Qian, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Li, Meng, Tan, Xiaobo, Li, Ruiheng, Wang, Chen, Chen, Yue, Dong, Hongliang, Ang, Ran and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2025). Lattice defect engineering advances n-type PbSe thermoelectrics. Nature Communications, 16 (1) 656, 656. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56003-9
2025
Journal Article
Enabling ultra-flexible inorganic thin-film-based thermoelectric devices by introducing nanoscale titanium layers
Tan, Ming, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Liu, Wei-Di, Jiang, Yong, Liu, Si-Qi, Cao, Tianyi, Chen, Wenyi, Li, Meng, Lin, Tong, Deng, Yuan, Liu, Shaomin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2025). Enabling ultra-flexible inorganic thin-film-based thermoelectric devices by introducing nanoscale titanium layers. Nature Communications, 16 (1) 633, 633. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56015-5
2025
Journal Article
Revisiting Cobalt Dopability in GeTe System to Design Modulation-Doped Thermoelectrics
Hu, Ming-Hang, Li, Meng, Wang, De-Zhuang, Yin, Liang-Cao, Wu, Hao, Liu, Wei-Di, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Wang, Yifeng, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2025). Revisiting Cobalt Dopability in GeTe System to Design Modulation-Doped Thermoelectrics. Advanced Functional Materials. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202421837
2025
Journal Article
Termination-acidity tailoring of molybdenum carbides for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction
Chen, Zhigang, Yang, Minghao, Li, Yifan, Gong, Wenbin, Wang, Juan, Liu, Tong, Zhang, Chunyu, Hou, Shuang, Yang, Guang, Li, Hao, Jin, Ye, Zhang, Chunyan, Tian, Zhongqing, Meng, Fancheng and Cui, Yi (2025). Termination-acidity tailoring of molybdenum carbides for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. Nature Communications, 16 (1) 418, 1. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-55854-6
2025
Journal Article
Solvothermally optimizing Ag<sub>2</sub>Te/Ag<sub>2</sub>S composites with high thermoelectric performance and plasticity
Zhu, Min, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Li, Meng, Wu, Hao, Wang, De-Zhuang, Yin, Liang-Cao, Wu, Ting, Liu, Wei-Di, Huang, Yan, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Liu, Qingfeng (2025). Solvothermally optimizing Ag2Te/Ag2S composites with high thermoelectric performance and plasticity. Materials Horizons. doi: 10.1039/d4mh01654h
2025
Journal Article
Introducing atomistic dynamics at van der Waals surfaces for enhancing the thermoelectric performance of layered Bi<sub>0.4</sub>Sb<sub>1.6</sub>Te<sub>3</sub>
Mansoor, Adil, Jabar, Bushra, Shah, Syed Shoaib Ahmad, Javed, Muhammad Sufyan, Najam, Tayyaba, Ishaq, Muhammad, Chen, Shuo, Li, Fu, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Chen, Yue-Xing, Liang, Guang-Xing, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zheng, Zhuang-Hao (2025). Introducing atomistic dynamics at van der Waals surfaces for enhancing the thermoelectric performance of layered Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3. Energy & Environmental Science, 18 (5), 2485-2498. doi: 10.1039/d4ee04930f
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Honorary Professor Zhi-Gang Chen is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Design low-cost, low-toxic and high performance thermoelectric materials
The direct energy conversion between heat and electricity, based on thermoelectric effects without moving parts, has been considered as a green and sustainable solution to the global energy dilemma. This project aims to develop novel band-engineered metal selenides for high-efficiency energy conversion using novel microwave assisted wet chemistry approach, coupled with nanostructure and band engineering strategies. The key breakthrough is to design high performance metal selenide thermoelectrics for satisfying the high efficiency solid-state devices. The expected outcomes will lead to an innovative technology that waste heat recovery and refrigeration, which will place Australia at the forefront of practical energy technologies.
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Design low-cost and high performance two dimensional topological insulators
Superfast information technology had HOV lanes so that data could be stored, processed and disseminated many times faster than possible with today's electronics. This project aims to develop new topological insulators using chemical vapor depostion and coupling unique nanostructure and band engineering strategies. The ultimate target is to be used for this new generation devices, such a speedway for future devices, an exotic type of electrical conductor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Design high-performance fiber-based thermoelectrics for wearable electronics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Dargusch, Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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Doctor Philosophy
Advanced Microscopy Technique for High-performance Thermoelectric Materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the structural characteristics for two-dimensional nanostructure heterojunction
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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Doctor Philosophy
Atomic scale phase transition study in two-dimensional material heterostructures by in-situ transmission electron microscopy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of thermoelectric materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of thermoelectric materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
High-performance GeTe Thermoelectrics for Generation and Refrigeration
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Dargusch
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
High performance flexible thermoelectric materials and their device design
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Dargusch, Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
High-performance SnTe-based Thermoelectric Materials via Synergistically Band and Nanostructure Engineering
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Development of High-efficiency Metal Chalcogenide Thermoelectric Nanomaterials by Nanostructure Engineering
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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2012
Master Philosophy
Synthesis of Tellurium-based Thermoelectric Nanomaterials
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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2018
Master Philosophy
The CVD growth and the characterization of MoxW1-xTe2
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Layered Semiconductor Nanostructures and Understanding Their Growth Mechanisms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Development and Understanding of Solvothermal Synthesized Copper Chalcogenide Thermoelectric Materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Study of Cracking and Breakage Behaviour of Gibbsite Particles at Smelter Grade Alumina Production Conditions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor John Zhu
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Development of High-efficient Tin Selenide-based Thermoelectric Materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Growth of Metal Chalcogenide Nanomaterials and Their Characterizations
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Development of high-performance bismuth telluride-based thermoelectric nanomaterials through structure manipulating and band engineering
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Development of New-Phase Layer-Structured In3Se4 Nanostructures for Energy Applications
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the Bi2Te3-based Nanostructures Synthesized by the Solvothermal Method
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
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2012
Master Philosophy
Electron Microscopy Investigation of epitaxial GaAs nanowires grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou
Media
Enquiries
Contact Honorary Professor Zhi-Gang Chen directly for media enquiries about:
- Engineering
- Light electronics
- Lights
- Nanomaterials
- Nanostructures
- Optoelectronic devices
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