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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

261 - 280 of 515 works

2020

Journal Article

Morphology and texture engineering enhancing thermoelectric performance of solvothermal synthesized ultralarge SnS microcrystal

Liu, Wei-Di, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Lin, Zi-Jie, Sun, Qiang, Han, Guang, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zou, Jin (2020). Morphology and texture engineering enhancing thermoelectric performance of solvothermal synthesized ultralarge SnS microcrystal. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 3 (3) acsaem.0c00068, 2192-2199. doi: 10.1021/acsaem.0c00068

Morphology and texture engineering enhancing thermoelectric performance of solvothermal synthesized ultralarge SnS microcrystal

2020

Journal Article

Graphene oxide and adiponectin-functionalized sulfonated polyetheretherketone with effective osteogenicity and remotely repeatable photo-disinfection

Deng, Yi, Gao, Xiangyu, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Lu, Siyu, Yang, Weizhong, Duan, Chunyan and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Graphene oxide and adiponectin-functionalized sulfonated polyetheretherketone with effective osteogenicity and remotely repeatable photo-disinfection. Chemistry of Materials, 32 (5) acs.chemmater.0c00290, 2180-2193. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.0c00290

Graphene oxide and adiponectin-functionalized sulfonated polyetheretherketone with effective osteogenicity and remotely repeatable photo-disinfection

2020

Journal Article

Establishing the golden range of Seebeck coefficient for maximizing thermoelectric performance

Hong, Min, Lyu, Wanyu, Wang, Yuan, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Establishing the golden range of Seebeck coefficient for maximizing thermoelectric performance. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 142 (5) jacs.9b13272, 2672-2681. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b13272

Establishing the golden range of Seebeck coefficient for maximizing thermoelectric performance

2020

Journal Article

Correlation between the photocatalysis and growth mechanism of SnO<sub>2</sub> nanocrystals

Zhan, Hongquan, Deng, Ce, Shi, Xiao-lei, Wu, Chuanqi, Li, Xiaohong, Xie, Zhipeng, Wang, Chang-An and Chen, Zhigang (2020). Correlation between the photocatalysis and growth mechanism of SnO2 nanocrystals. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 53 (15) 154005, 154005. doi: 10.1088/1361-6463/ab6b96

Correlation between the photocatalysis and growth mechanism of SnO<sub>2</sub> nanocrystals

2020

Journal Article

Outstanding thermoelectric properties in solvothermal-synthesized Sn1-3xInxAg2xTe micro-crystals through defect engineering and band tuning

Moshwan, Raza, Liu, Weidi, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Sun, Qiang, Gao, Han, Wang, Yun-Peng, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Outstanding thermoelectric properties in solvothermal-synthesized Sn1-3xInxAg2xTe micro-crystals through defect engineering and band tuning. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 8 (7), 3978-3987. doi: 10.1039/c9ta11614a

Outstanding thermoelectric properties in solvothermal-synthesized Sn1-3xInxAg2xTe micro-crystals through defect engineering and band tuning

2020

Journal Article

Nanostructured monoclinic Cu2Se as a near-room-temperature thermoelectric material

Chen, Jie, Liu, Taoyi, Bao, Deyu, Zhang, Bin, Han, Guang, Liu, Can, Tang, Jun, Zhou, Dali, Yang, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Nanostructured monoclinic Cu2Se as a near-room-temperature thermoelectric material. Nanoscale, 12 (39), 20536-20542. doi: 10.1039/d0nr05829g

Nanostructured monoclinic Cu2Se as a near-room-temperature thermoelectric material

2020

Journal Article

Two-dimensional nano-coating enables orthopedic implant 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). Two-dimensional nano-coating enables orthopedic implant for bimodal therapeutic applications. Nanoscale, 12 (22), 11936-11946. doi: 10.1039/d0nr02327b

Two-dimensional nano-coating enables orthopedic implant for bimodal therapeutic applications

2020

Journal Article

Cracking behaviour and mechanism at grain boundary of gibbsite during calcination

Zhang, Jinxuan, Ge, Lei, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zhu, Zhonghua (2020). Cracking behaviour and mechanism at grain boundary of gibbsite during calcination. Ceramics International, 46 (8), 12067-12072. doi: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.01.248

Cracking behaviour and mechanism at grain boundary of gibbsite during calcination

2020

Book Chapter

Thermo-responsive nanomaterials for thermoelectric generation

Liu, Wei-Di, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2020). Thermo-responsive nanomaterials for thermoelectric generation. Responsive nanomaterials for sustainable applications. (pp. 269-293) edited by Ziqi Sun and Ting Liao . Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-39994-8_9

Thermo-responsive nanomaterials for thermoelectric generation

2020

Journal Article

Revealing cracking and breakage behaviours of gibbsite particles

Zhang, Jinxuan, Ge, Lei, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zhu, Zhonghua (2020). Revealing cracking and breakage behaviours of gibbsite particles. Ceramics International, 47 (4), 4625-4632. doi: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.10.029

Revealing cracking and breakage behaviours of gibbsite particles

2019

Journal Article

Optimization of sodium hydroxide for securing high thermoelectric performance in polycrystalline Sn 1 − x Se via anisotropy and vacancy synergy

Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Liu, Wei‐Di, Wu, Ang‐Yin, Nguyen, Van T., Gao, Han, Sun, Qiang, Moshwan, Raza, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2019). Optimization of sodium hydroxide for securing high thermoelectric performance in polycrystalline Sn 1 − x Se via anisotropy and vacancy synergy. InfoMat, 2 (6) inf2.12057, 1201-1215. doi: 10.1002/inf2.12057

Optimization of sodium hydroxide for securing high thermoelectric performance in polycrystalline Sn 1 − x Se via anisotropy and vacancy synergy

2019

Journal Article

Enhanced thermoelectric properties of nanostructured n-type Bi2Te3 by suppressing Te vacancy through non-equilibrium fast reaction

Wang, Yuan, Liu, Wei-Di, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Hong, Min, Wang, Li-Jun, Li, Meng, Wang, Hao, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Enhanced thermoelectric properties of nanostructured n-type Bi2Te3 by suppressing Te vacancy through non-equilibrium fast reaction. Chemical Engineering Journal, 391 123513, 123513. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2019.123513

Enhanced thermoelectric properties of nanostructured n-type Bi2Te3 by suppressing Te vacancy through non-equilibrium fast reaction

2019

Journal Article

Anisotropy control-induced unique anisotropic thermoelectric performance in the n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 thin films

Tan, Ming, Liu, Wei-Di, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Gao, Han, Li, Hui, Li, Cong, Liu, Xiao-Biao, Deng, Yuan and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Anisotropy control-induced unique anisotropic thermoelectric performance in the n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 thin films. Small Methods, 3 (11) 1900582, 1900582. doi: 10.1002/smtd.201900582

Anisotropy control-induced unique anisotropic thermoelectric performance in the n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 thin films

2019

Journal Article

Significance of partial substitution of carbon by nitrogen on strengthening and toughening mechanisms of high nitrogen Fe-15Cr-1Mo-C-N martensitic stainless steels

Feng, Hao, Li, Hua-Bing, Jiao, Wei-Chao, Jiang, Zhou-Hua, Cai, Ming-Hui, Zhu, Hong-Chun and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Significance of partial substitution of carbon by nitrogen on strengthening and toughening mechanisms of high nitrogen Fe-15Cr-1Mo-C-N martensitic stainless steels. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science, 50A (11), 4987-4999. doi: 10.1007/s11661-019-05398-4

Significance of partial substitution of carbon by nitrogen on strengthening and toughening mechanisms of high nitrogen Fe-15Cr-1Mo-C-N martensitic stainless steels

2019

Journal Article

In- situ observation of the continuous phase transition in determining the high thermoelectric performance of polycrystalline Sn0.98Se

Dargusch, Matthew, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Tran, Xuan Quy, Feng, Tianli, Somidin, Flora, Tan, Xin, Liu, Weidi, Jack, Kevin, Venezuela, Jeffrey, Maeno, Hiroshi, Toriyama, Takaaki, Matsumura, Syo, Pantelides, Sokrates T. and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). In- situ observation of the continuous phase transition in determining the high thermoelectric performance of polycrystalline Sn0.98Se. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 10 (21), 6512-6517. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b02818

In- situ observation of the continuous phase transition in determining the high thermoelectric performance of polycrystalline Sn0.98Se

2019

Journal Article

Correction to “Strong phonon–phonon interactions securing extraordinary thermoelectric Ge1–xSbxTe with Zn-alloying-induced band alignment”

Hong, Min, Wang, Yuan, Feng, Tianli, Sun, Qiang, Xu, Shengduo, Matsumura, Syo, Pantelides, Sokrates T., Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Correction to “Strong phonon–phonon interactions securing extraordinary thermoelectric Ge1–xSbxTe with Zn-alloying-induced band alignment”. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 141 (41), 16512-16512. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b10240

Correction to “Strong phonon–phonon interactions securing extraordinary thermoelectric Ge1–xSbxTe with Zn-alloying-induced band alignment”

2019

Journal Article

Enhanced hydrogen generation behaviors and hydrolysis thermodynamics of as-cast Mg–Ni–Ce magnesium-rich alloys in simulate seawater

Hou, Xiaojiang, Wang, Yi, Yang, Yanling, Hu, Rui, Yang, Guang, Feng, Lei, Suo, Guoquan, Ye, Xiaohui, Zhang, Li, Shi, Hongchang, Yang, Lu and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Enhanced hydrogen generation behaviors and hydrolysis thermodynamics of as-cast Mg–Ni–Ce magnesium-rich alloys in simulate seawater. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 44 (44), 24086-24097. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.07.148

Enhanced hydrogen generation behaviors and hydrolysis thermodynamics of as-cast Mg–Ni–Ce magnesium-rich alloys in simulate seawater

2019

Journal Article

Realizing bi-doped α-Cu2Se as a promising near-room-temperature thermoelectric material

Liao, Wang-Wei, Yang, Lei, Chen, Jie, Zhou, Da-Li, Qu, Xian-lin, Zheng, Kun, Han, Guang, Zhou, Jia-Bei, Hong, Min and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Realizing bi-doped α-Cu2Se as a promising near-room-temperature thermoelectric material. Chemical Engineering Journal, 371, 593-599. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2019.04.081

Realizing bi-doped α-Cu2Se as a promising near-room-temperature thermoelectric material

2019

Journal Article

Separable and recyclable meso-carbon@TiO 2 /carbon fiber composites for visible-light photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis

Chen, Hua-Jun, Yang, Yan-Ling, Hong, Min, Chen, Jin-Geng, Suo, Guo-Quan, Hou, Xiao-Jiang, Feng, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Separable and recyclable meso-carbon@TiO 2 /carbon fiber composites for visible-light photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 21 e00105. doi: 10.1016/j.susmat.2019.e00105

Separable and recyclable meso-carbon@TiO 2 /carbon fiber composites for visible-light photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis

2019

Journal Article

Realizing high thermoelectric properties of SnTe via synergistic band engineering and structure engineering

Moshwan, Raza, Liu, Wei-Di, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Wang, Yun-Peng, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Realizing high thermoelectric properties of SnTe via synergistic band engineering and structure engineering. Nano Energy, 65 104056, 104056. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104056

Realizing high thermoelectric properties of SnTe via synergistic band engineering and structure engineering

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

    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

    Design high-performance fiber-based thermoelectrics for wearable electronics

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Matthew Dargusch, 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

  • 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

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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