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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

281 - 300 of 515 works

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

High porosity in nanostructured n-Type Bi2Te3 obtaining ultralow lattice thermal conductivity

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

Flexible thermoelectric materials and generators: challenges and innovations

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

High-performance PEDOT:PSS flexible thermoelectric materials and their devices by triple post-treatments

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

Bioinspired and osteopromotive polydopamine nanoparticle-incorporated fibrous membranes for robust bone regeneration

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

Carbon-encapsulated copper sulfide leading to enhanced thermoelectric properties

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

Coordination-controlled single-atom tungsten as a non-3d-metal oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst with ultrahigh mass activity

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

Nanoscale pores plus precipitates rendering high-performance thermoelectric SnTe1-xSex with refined band structures

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

Solvothermal synthesis of high-purity porous Cu1.7Se approaching low lattice thermal conductivity

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

Oligomeric silica-wrapped perovskites enable synchronous defect passivation and grain stabilization for efficient and stable perovskite photovoltaics

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

Empowering Metal Phosphides Anode with Catalytic Attribute toward Superior Cyclability for Lithium-Ion Storage

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

Enhancing thermoelectric properties of InTe nanoprecipitate-embedded Sn1–xInxTe microcrystals through anharmonicity and strain engineering

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

Thermoelectric GeTe with diverse degrees of freedom having secured superhigh performance

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

Enhanced mobility in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures with layer-modulated patterning

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

High thermoelectric performance in p-type polycrystalline Cd-doped SnSe achieved by a combination of cation vacancies and localized lattice engineering

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

Super large Sn1–xSe single crystals with excellent thermoelectric performance

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

Real-time observation of the temperature-induced phase transformation in GeTe and its thermal expansion properties

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

Ce/Mn dual-doped LaAlO3 ceramics with enhanced far-infrared emission capability synthesized via a facile microwave sintering method

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

Strong phonon–phonon interactions securing extraordinary thermoelectric ge1–xSbxTe with Zn-alloying-induced band alignment

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

Effectively restricting MnSi precipitates for simultaneously enhancing the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity in higher manganese silicide

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

Exploring the underlying mechanisms behind the increased far infrared radiation properties of perovskite-type Ce/Mn co-doped ceramics

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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