
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
2019
Journal Article
High porosity in nanostructured n-Type Bi2Te3 obtaining ultralow lattice thermal conductivity
Wang, Yuan, Liu, Weidi, Gao, Han, Wang, Lijun, Li, Meng, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Hong, Min, Wang, Hao, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). High porosity in nanostructured n-Type Bi2Te3 obtaining ultralow lattice thermal conductivity. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 11 (34) acsami.9b12079, 31237-31244. doi: 10.1021/acsami.9b12079
2019
Journal Article
Flexible thermoelectric materials and generators: challenges and innovations
Wang, Yuan, Yang, Lei, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Shi, Xun, Chen, Lidong, Dargusch, Matthew S., Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2019). Flexible thermoelectric materials and generators: challenges and innovations. Advanced Materials, 31 (29) 1807916, e1807916. doi: 10.1002/adma.201807916
2019
Journal Article
High-performance PEDOT:PSS flexible thermoelectric materials and their devices by triple post-treatments
Xu, Shengduo, Hong, Min, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Wang, Yuan, Ge, Lei, Bai, Yang, Wang, Lianzhou, Dargusch, Matthew, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). High-performance PEDOT:PSS flexible thermoelectric materials and their devices by triple post-treatments. Chemistry of Materials, 31 (14) acs.chemmater.9b01500, 5238-5244. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.9b01500
2019
Journal Article
Bioinspired and osteopromotive polydopamine nanoparticle-incorporated fibrous membranes for robust bone regeneration
Deng, Yi, Yang, Wei-Zhong, Shi, Dong, Wu, Minjie, Xiong, Xiao-Ling, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Wei, Shi-Cheng (2019). Bioinspired and osteopromotive polydopamine nanoparticle-incorporated fibrous membranes for robust bone regeneration. NPG Asia Materials, 11 (1) 39. doi: 10.1038/s41427-019-0139-5
2019
Journal Article
Carbon-encapsulated copper sulfide leading to enhanced thermoelectric properties
Chen, Xinqi, Zhang, Hui, Zhao, Yuye, Liu, Wei-Di, Dai, Wei, Wu, Tian, Lu, Xiaofang, Wu, Cao, Luo, Wei, Fan, Yuchi, Wang, Lianjun, Jiang, Wan, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Yang, Jianping (2019). Carbon-encapsulated copper sulfide leading to enhanced thermoelectric properties. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 11 (25) acsami.9b06212, 22457-22463. doi: 10.1021/acsami.9b06212
2019
Journal Article
Coordination-controlled single-atom tungsten as a non-3d-metal oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst with ultrahigh mass activity
Chen, Zhigang, Gong, Wenbin, Liu, Zhibo, Cong, Shan, Zheng, Zuhui, Wang, Zhen, Zhang, Wei, Ma, Jingyuan, Yu, Haisheng, Li, Guihang, Lu, Weibang, Ren, Wencai and Zhao, Zhigang (2019). Coordination-controlled single-atom tungsten as a non-3d-metal oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst with ultrahigh mass activity. Nano Energy, 60, 394-403. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.03.045
2019
Journal Article
Nanoscale pores plus precipitates rendering high-performance thermoelectric SnTe1-xSex with refined band structures
Hong, Min, Wang, Yuan, Xu, Shengduo, Shi, Xun, Chen, Lidong, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Nanoscale pores plus precipitates rendering high-performance thermoelectric SnTe1-xSex with refined band structures. Nano Energy, 60, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.03.031
2019
Journal Article
Solvothermal synthesis of high-purity porous Cu1.7Se approaching low lattice thermal conductivity
Liu, Wei-Di, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Moshwan, Raza, Yang, Lei, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zou, Jin (2019). Solvothermal synthesis of high-purity porous Cu1.7Se approaching low lattice thermal conductivity. Chemical Engineering Journal, 375 121996, 121996. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2019.121996
2019
Journal Article
Oligomeric silica-wrapped perovskites enable synchronous defect passivation and grain stabilization for efficient and stable perovskite photovoltaics
Bai, Yang, Lin, Yun, Ren, Long, Shi, Xiaolei, Strounina, Ekaterina, Deng, Yehao, Wang, Qi, Fang, Yanjun, Zheng, Xiaopeng, Lin, Yuze, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Du, Yi, Wang, Lianzhou and Huang, Jinsong (2019). Oligomeric silica-wrapped perovskites enable synchronous defect passivation and grain stabilization for efficient and stable perovskite photovoltaics. ACS Energy Letters, 4 (6), 1231-1240. doi: 10.1021/acsenergylett.9b00608
2019
Journal Article
Empowering Metal Phosphides Anode with Catalytic Attribute toward Superior Cyclability for Lithium-Ion Storage
Yuan, Huadong, Wu, Min, Zheng, Jianhui, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Zhang, Wenkui, Luo, Jianmin, Jin, Chengbin, Sheng, Ouwei, Liang, Chu, Gan, Yongping, Xia, Yang, Zhang, Jun, Huang, Hui, Liu, Yujing, Nai, Jianwei and Tao, Xinyong (2019). Empowering Metal Phosphides Anode with Catalytic Attribute toward Superior Cyclability for Lithium-Ion Storage. Advanced Functional Materials, 29 (17) 1809051, 1-8. doi: 10.1002/adfm.201809051
2019
Journal Article
Enhancing thermoelectric properties of InTe nanoprecipitate-embedded Sn1–xInxTe microcrystals through anharmonicity and strain engineering
Moshwan, Raza, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Liu, Wei-Di, Wang, Yuan, Xu, Shengduo, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Enhancing thermoelectric properties of InTe nanoprecipitate-embedded Sn1–xInxTe microcrystals through anharmonicity and strain engineering. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 2 (4) acsaem.9b00399, 2965-2971. doi: 10.1021/acsaem.9b00399
2019
Journal Article
Thermoelectric GeTe with diverse degrees of freedom having secured superhigh performance
Hong, Min, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Thermoelectric GeTe with diverse degrees of freedom having secured superhigh performance. Advanced Materials, 31 (14) 1807071, 1807071. doi: 10.1002/adma.201807071
2019
Journal Article
Enhanced mobility in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures with layer-modulated patterning
Hu, Hai-Long, Anh Pham, Chen, Zhigang, Duty, Timothy, Wang, Danyang and Li, Sean (2019). Enhanced mobility in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures with layer-modulated patterning. Ceramics International, 45 (5), 5496-5502. doi: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.12.006
2019
Journal Article
High thermoelectric performance in p-type polycrystalline Cd-doped SnSe achieved by a combination of cation vacancies and localized lattice engineering
Shi, Xiaolei, Wu, Angyin, Feng, Tianli, Zheng, Kun, Liu, Weidi, Sun, Qiang, Hong, Min, Pantelides, Sokrates T., Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zou, Jin (2019). High thermoelectric performance in p-type polycrystalline Cd-doped SnSe achieved by a combination of cation vacancies and localized lattice engineering. Advanced Energy Materials, 9 (11) 1803242, 1803242. doi: 10.1002/aenm.201803242
2019
Journal Article
Super large Sn1–xSe single crystals with excellent thermoelectric performance
Jin, Min, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Feng, Tianli, Liu, Weidi, Feng, Haifeng, Pantelides, Sokrates T., Jiang, Jun, Chen, Yunxia, Du, Yi, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Super large Sn1–xSe single crystals with excellent thermoelectric performance. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 11 (8) acsami.8b21699, 8051-8059. doi: 10.1021/acsami.8b21699
2019
Journal Article
Real-time observation of the temperature-induced phase transformation in GeTe and its thermal expansion properties
Tran, Xuan Quy, Hong, Min, Maeno, Hiroshi, Kawami, Youichirou, Toriyama, Takaaki, Jack, Kevin, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Zou, Jin, Matsumura, Syo and Dargusch, Matthew S. (2019). Real-time observation of the temperature-induced phase transformation in GeTe and its thermal expansion properties. Acta Materialia, 165, 327-335. doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2018.11.059
2019
Journal Article
Ce/Mn dual-doped LaAlO3 ceramics with enhanced far-infrared emission capability synthesized via a facile microwave sintering method
Deng, Yi, Zhang, Kewei, Yang, Yuanyi, Shi, Xiuyuan, Yang, Lei, Yang, Weizhong, Wang, Yuan and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Ce/Mn dual-doped LaAlO3 ceramics with enhanced far-infrared emission capability synthesized via a facile microwave sintering method. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 774, 434-442. doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.10.049
2019
Journal Article
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). Strong phonon–phonon interactions securing extraordinary thermoelectric ge1–xSbxTe with Zn-alloying-induced band alignment. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 141 (4), 1742-1748. doi: 10.1021/jacs.8b12624
2019
Journal Article
Effectively restricting MnSi precipitates for simultaneously enhancing the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity in higher manganese silicide
Liu, Wei-Di, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Moshwan, Raza, Sun, Qiang, Yang, Lei, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zou, Jin (2019). Effectively restricting MnSi precipitates for simultaneously enhancing the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity in higher manganese silicide. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 7 (24), 7212-7218. doi: 10.1039/c9tc01937e
2019
Journal Article
Exploring the underlying mechanisms behind the increased far infrared radiation properties of perovskite-type Ce/Mn co-doped ceramics
Deng, Yi, Zhang, Kewei, Shi, Xiuyuan, Dong, Taosheng, Yang, Lei, Yang, Weizhong, Hong, Min, Wang, Yuan, Dargusch, Matthew and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2019). Exploring the underlying mechanisms behind the increased far infrared radiation properties of perovskite-type Ce/Mn co-doped ceramics. Materials Research Bulletin, 109, 233-239. doi: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2018.09.042
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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