
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
2021
Journal Article
Fiber-based thermoelectrics for solid, portable, and wearable electronics
Shi, Xiao-Lei, Chen, Wen-Yi, Zhang, Ting, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Fiber-based thermoelectrics for solid, portable, and wearable electronics. Energy and Environmental Science, 14 (2), 729-764. doi: 10.1039/d0ee03520c
2021
Journal Article
Identification of embedded nanotwins at c-Si/a-Si:H interface limiting the performance of high-efficiency silicon heterojunction solar cells
Qu, Xianlin, He, Yongcai, Qu, Minghao, Ruan, Tianyu, Chu, Feihong, Zheng, Zilong, Ma, Yabin, Chen, Yuanping, Ru, Xiaoning, Xu, Xixiang, Yan, Hui, Wang, Lihua, Zhang, Yongzhe, Hao, Xiaojing, Hameiri, Ziv, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Wang, Lianzhou and Zheng, Kun (2021). Identification of embedded nanotwins at c-Si/a-Si:H interface limiting the performance of high-efficiency silicon heterojunction solar cells. Nature Energy, 6 (2), 194-202. doi: 10.1038/s41560-020-00768-4
2021
Book Chapter
Synthesis of thermoelectric materials
Hong, Min, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Synthesis of thermoelectric materials. Thermoelectricity and Advanced Thermoelectric Materials. (pp. 73-103) edited by Ranjan Kumar and Ranber Singh. Duxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819984-8.00010-2
2021
Journal Article
Two-dimensional WSe2/SnSe p-n junctions secure ultrahigh thermoelectric performance in n-type Pb/I co-doped polycrystalline SnSe
Chen, Yue-Xing, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Zheng, Zhuang-Hao, Li, Fu, Liu, Wei-Di, Chen, Wen-Yi, Li, Xin-Ru, Liang, Guang-Xing, Luo, Jing-Ting, Fan, Ping and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Two-dimensional WSe2/SnSe p-n junctions secure ultrahigh thermoelectric performance in n-type Pb/I co-doped polycrystalline SnSe. Materials Today Physics, 16 100306, 100306. doi: 10.1016/j.mtphys.2020.100306
2021
Journal Article
Versatile vanadium doping induces high thermoelectric performance in GeTe via band alignment and structural modulation
Sun, Qiang, Li, Meng, Shi, Xiao-lei, Xu, Shengduo, Liu, Weidi, Hong, Min, Lyv, Wan-yu, Yin, Yu, Dargusch, Matthew, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-gang (2021). Versatile vanadium doping induces high thermoelectric performance in GeTe via band alignment and structural modulation. Advanced Energy Materials, 11 (20) 2100544, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202100544
2020
Journal Article
Cu2Se thermoelectrics: property, methodology, and device
Liu, Wei-Di, Yang, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Cu2Se thermoelectrics: property, methodology, and device. Nano Today, 35 100938, 100938. doi: 10.1016/j.nantod.2020.100938
2020
Journal Article
Hierarchical SnS2/carbon nanotube@reduced graphene oxide composite as an anode for ultra-stable sodium-ion batteries
Sun, Yu, Yang, Yanling, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Suo, Guoquan, Chen, Huajun, Noman, Muhammad, Tao, Xinyong and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Hierarchical SnS2/carbon nanotube@reduced graphene oxide composite as an anode for ultra-stable sodium-ion batteries. Chemical Engineering Journal Advances, 4 100053, 100053. doi: 10.1016/j.ceja.2020.100053
2020
Journal Article
Rational structure design and manipulation advance SnSe thermoelectrics
Shi, Xiao-Lei, Chen, Wen-Yi, Tao, Xinyong, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Rational structure design and manipulation advance SnSe thermoelectrics. Materials Horizons, 7 (12), 3065-3096. doi: 10.1039/d0mh00954g
2020
Journal Article
Point defect engineering and machinability in n-type Mg3Sb2-based materials
Li, Juan, Zhang, Shuai, Jia, Fei, Zheng, Shuqi, Shi, Xiaolei, Jiang, Daqiang, Wang, Siyu, Lu, Guiwu, Wu, Liming and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Point defect engineering and machinability in n-type Mg3Sb2-based materials. Materials Today Physics, 15 100269, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.mtphys.2020.100269
2020
Journal Article
Hierarchical structures advance thermoelectric properties of porous n-type β-Ag2Se
Chen, Jie, Sun, Qiang, Bao, Deyu, Liu, Taoyi, Liu, Wei-Di, Liu, Can, Tang, Jun, Zhou, Dali, Yang, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Hierarchical structures advance thermoelectric properties of porous n-type β-Ag2Se. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 12 (46), 51523-51529. doi: 10.1021/acsami.0c15341
2020
Journal Article
CO2 derived nanoporous carbons for carbon capture
Liu, Shuhe, Jin, Yonggang, Bae, Jun-Seok, Chen, Zhigang, Dong, Peng, Zhao, Shuchun and Li, Ruyan (2020). CO2 derived nanoporous carbons for carbon capture. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 305 110356. doi: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2020.110356
2020
Journal Article
Facile synthesis of hierarchical Ni3Se2 nanodendrite arrays for supercapacitors
Zhao, Licheng, Zhang, Ping, Zhang, Yanan, Zhang, Zhi, Yang, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Facile synthesis of hierarchical Ni3Se2 nanodendrite arrays for supercapacitors. Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 54, 69-76. doi: 10.1016/j.jmst.2020.02.063
2020
Journal Article
In situ crystal-amorphous compositing inducing ultrahigh thermoelectric performance of p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 hybrid thin films
Tan, Ming, Liu, Wei-Di, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Shang, Jin, Li, Hui, Liu, Xiaobiao, Kou, Liangzhi, Dargusch, Matthew, Deng, Yuan and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). In situ crystal-amorphous compositing inducing ultrahigh thermoelectric performance of p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 hybrid thin films. Nano Energy, 78 105379, 105379. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105379
2020
Journal Article
Rashba effect maximizes thermoelectric performance of GeTe derivatives
Hong, Min, Lyv, Wanyu, Li, Meng, Xu, Shengduo, Sun, Qiang, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Rashba effect maximizes thermoelectric performance of GeTe derivatives. Joule, 4 (9), 2030-2043. doi: 10.1016/j.joule.2020.07.021
2020
Journal Article
Crowding-out effect strategy using AgCl for realizing a super low lattice thermal conductivity of SnTe
Wang, Lijun, Hong, Min, Kawami, Youichirou, Sun, Qiang, Nguyen, Van Thuong, Wang, Yuan, Yue, Luo, Zheng, Shuqi, Zhu, Zhonghua, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Crowding-out effect strategy using AgCl for realizing a super low lattice thermal conductivity of SnTe. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 25 e00183, e00183. doi: 10.1016/j.susmat.2020.e00183
2020
Journal Article
Correction: Two-dimensional nanocoating-enabled orthopedic implants for bimodal therapeutic applications
Wang, Song, Duan, Chunyan, Yang, Weizhong, Gao, Xiangyu, Shi, Jiacheng, Kang, Jianping, Deng, Yi, Shi, Xiao-Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Correction: Two-dimensional nanocoating-enabled orthopedic implants for bimodal therapeutic applications. Nanoscale, 12 (33), 17555-17556. doi: 10.1039/d0nr90183k
2020
Journal Article
Thermoelectric generators: alternative power supply for wearable electrocardiographic systems
Dargusch, Matthew, Liu, Wei‐Di and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2020). Thermoelectric generators: alternative power supply for wearable electrocardiographic systems. Advanced Science, 7 (18) 2001362, 2001362. doi: 10.1002/advs.202001362
2020
Journal Article
Ellagic acid–Fe nanoscale coordination polymer with higher longitudinal relaxivity for dual-modality T1-weighted magnetic resonance and photoacoustic tumor imaging
Tian, Qiwei, Cai, Yu, Li, Nan, Liu, Qiufang, Gu, Bingxin, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Song, Shaoli (2020). Ellagic acid–Fe nanoscale coordination polymer with higher longitudinal relaxivity for dual-modality T1-weighted magnetic resonance and photoacoustic tumor imaging. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine, 28 102219, 102219. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2020.102219
2020
Journal Article
An effective combination reaction involved with sputtered and selenized Sb precursors for efficient Sb2Se3 thin film solar cells
Luo, Yan-Di, Tang, Rong, Chen, Shuo, Hu, Ju-Guang, Liu, Yi-Ke, Li, Ying-Fen, Liu, Xin-Sheng, Zheng, Zhuang-Hao, Su, Zheng-Hua, Ma, Xiu-Fang, Fan, Ping, Zhang, Xiang-Hua, Ma, Hong-Li, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Liang, Guang-Xing (2020). An effective combination reaction involved with sputtered and selenized Sb precursors for efficient Sb2Se3 thin film solar cells. Chemical Engineering Journal, 393 124599, 124599. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.124599
2020
Journal Article
Hierarchical structuring to break the amorphous limit of lattice thermal conductivity in high-performance SnTe-based thermoelectrics
Wang, Lijun, Hong, Min, Sun, Qiang, Wang, Yuan, Yue, Luo, Zheng, Shuqi, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Hierarchical structuring to break the amorphous limit of lattice thermal conductivity in high-performance SnTe-based thermoelectrics. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 12 (32) acsami.0c09781, 36370-36379. doi: 10.1021/acsami.0c09781
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
Development of High-Performance Thermoelectric Materials and Devices for on-chip Applications
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Dargusch, 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
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
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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
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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