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Honorary Professor Zhi-Gang Chen
Honorary Professor

Zhi-Gang Chen

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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

  • 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.

  • 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

515 works between 2005 and 2025

221 - 240 of 515 works

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

Fiber-based thermoelectrics for solid, portable, and wearable electronics

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

Identification of embedded nanotwins at c-Si/a-Si:H interface limiting the performance of high-efficiency silicon heterojunction solar cells

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

Synthesis of thermoelectric materials

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

Two-dimensional WSe2/SnSe p-n junctions secure ultrahigh thermoelectric performance in n-type Pb/I co-doped polycrystalline SnSe

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

Versatile vanadium doping induces high thermoelectric performance in GeTe via band alignment and structural modulation

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

Cu2Se thermoelectrics: property, methodology, and device

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

Hierarchical SnS2/carbon nanotube@reduced graphene oxide composite as an anode for ultra-stable sodium-ion batteries

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

Rational structure design and manipulation advance SnSe thermoelectrics

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

Point defect engineering and machinability in n-type Mg3Sb2-based materials

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

Hierarchical structures advance thermoelectric properties of porous n-type β-Ag2Se

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

CO2 derived nanoporous carbons for carbon capture

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

Facile synthesis of hierarchical Ni3Se2 nanodendrite arrays for supercapacitors

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

In situ crystal-amorphous compositing inducing ultrahigh thermoelectric performance of p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 hybrid thin films

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

Rashba effect maximizes thermoelectric performance of GeTe derivatives

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

Crowding-out effect strategy using AgCl for realizing a super low lattice thermal conductivity of SnTe

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

Correction: Two-dimensional nanocoating-enabled orthopedic implants for bimodal therapeutic applications

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

Thermoelectric generators: alternative power supply for wearable electrocardiographic systems

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

Ellagic acid–Fe nanoscale coordination polymer with higher longitudinal relaxivity for dual-modality T1-weighted magnetic resonance and photoacoustic tumor imaging

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

An effective combination reaction involved with sputtered and selenized Sb precursors for efficient Sb2Se3 thin film solar cells

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

Hierarchical structuring to break the amorphous limit of lattice thermal conductivity in high-performance SnTe-based thermoelectrics

Funding

Past funding

  • 2018 - 2021
    High Performance, Low-cost Integrated System for Low-grade Wast Heat Recovery
    HBIS Group Co, Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Development of High Performance Nanostructured (Bi, Sb)2Te3 Nanomaterials
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Smart Futures Fellowship (Early): Development of high-efficiency thermoelectric nanowire arrays for power generation devices
    Queensland Government Smart Futures Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Queensland International Fellowship: Towards power generation devices for converting waste heat into power energy
    Queensland International Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Epitaxial Growth of Nanostructured Thermoelectric Zn4Sb3 p-n Junction Heterostructure Arrays for Power-Generation Devices
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards - DVC(R) Funding
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    An integrated system for measuring thermoelectric properties of advanced materials
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Development of Nanostructured Sensors for Ultra-sensitive, Label-free and Selective Detection of Biological and Chemical Species
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Development of Nanostructured Thermoelectric Materials for Power-Generation Devices
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2012
    Development of silicon nanowire sensors for detection of chemical species
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Epitaxial growth of Zn-VI/III-N nanowire-based structures for future device applications
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Design high-performance fiber-based thermoelectrics for wearable electronics

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Matthew Dargusch, Emeritus Professor Jin Zou

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of thermoelectric materials

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of thermoelectric materials

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Advanced Microscopy Technique for High-performance Thermoelectric Materials

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the structural characteristics for two-dimensional nanostructure heterojunction

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jin Zou

Completed supervision

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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