Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Honorary Professor Zhi-Gang Chen
Honorary Professor

Zhi-Gang Chen

Email: 
Phone: 
*

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

522 works between 2005 and 2025

321 - 340 of 522 works

2018

Journal Article

High Thermoelectric Performance in Sintered Octahedron-Shaped Sn(CdIn)xTe1+2x Microcrystals

Moshwan, Raza, Shi, Xiao Lei, Liu, Wei-Di, Yang, Lei, Wang, Yuan, Hong, Min, Auchterlonie, Graeme, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2018). High Thermoelectric Performance in Sintered Octahedron-Shaped Sn(CdIn)xTe1+2x Microcrystals. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 10 (45) acsami.8b14233, 38944-38952. doi: 10.1021/acsami.8b14233

High Thermoelectric Performance in Sintered Octahedron-Shaped Sn(CdIn)xTe1+2x Microcrystals

2018

Journal Article

Vapour-solid growth of MoxW1-xTe2 nanobelts by a facile chemical vapour deposition method

Liu, Shi-Jian, Zou, Yi-Chao, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Li, Qi-Zhen, Yang, Yu-Zhe, Liu, Wei-Di, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zou, Jin (2018). Vapour-solid growth of MoxW1-xTe2 nanobelts by a facile chemical vapour deposition method. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 777, 926-930. doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.11.068

Vapour-solid growth of MoxW1-xTe2 nanobelts by a facile chemical vapour deposition method

2018

Journal Article

Influence of nitrogen on corrosion behaviour of high nitrogen martensitic stainless steels manufactured by pressurized metallurgy

Feng, Hao, Jiang, Zhouhua, Li, Huabing, Lu, Pengchong, Zhang, Shucai, Zhu, Hongchun, Zhang, Binbin, Zhang, Tao, Xu, Dake and Chen, Zhigang (2018). Influence of nitrogen on corrosion behaviour of high nitrogen martensitic stainless steels manufactured by pressurized metallurgy. Corrosion Science, 144, 288-300. doi: 10.1016/j.corsci.2018.09.002

Influence of nitrogen on corrosion behaviour of high nitrogen martensitic stainless steels manufactured by pressurized metallurgy

2018

Journal Article

Arrays of planar vacancies in superior thermoelectric Ge1− x − yCdxBiyTe with band convergence

Hong, Min, Wang, Yuan, Liu, Weidi, Matsumura, Syo, Wang, Hao, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2018). Arrays of planar vacancies in superior thermoelectric Ge1− x − yCdxBiyTe with band convergence. Advanced Energy Materials, 8 (30) 1801837, 1801837. doi: 10.1002/aenm.201801837

Arrays of planar vacancies in superior thermoelectric Ge1− x − yCdxBiyTe with band convergence

2018

Journal Article

Polycrystalline SnSe with extraordinary thermoelectric property via nanoporous design

Shi, Xiaolei, Wu, Angyin, Liu, Weidi, Moshwan, Raza, Wang, Yuan, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zou, Jin (2018). Polycrystalline SnSe with extraordinary thermoelectric property via nanoporous design. ACS Nano, 12 (11) acsnano.8b06387, 11417-11425. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.8b06387

Polycrystalline SnSe with extraordinary thermoelectric property via nanoporous design

2018

Journal Article

Bioinspired design of strong, tough, and thermally stable polymeric materials via nanoconfinement

Song, Pingan, Dai, Jinfeng, Chen, Guorong, Yu, Youming, Fang, Zhengping, Lei, Weiwei, Fu, Shenyuan, Wang, Hao and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2018). Bioinspired design of strong, tough, and thermally stable polymeric materials via nanoconfinement. ACS Nano, 12 (9) acsnano.8b04002, 9266-9278. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.8b04002

Bioinspired design of strong, tough, and thermally stable polymeric materials via nanoconfinement

2018

Journal Article

Improved catalytic combustion of methane using CuO nanobelts with predominantly (001) surfaces

Kong, Qingquan, Yin, Yichun, Xue, Bing, Jin, Yonggang, Feng, Wei, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Su, Shi and Sun, Chenghua (2018). Improved catalytic combustion of methane using CuO nanobelts with predominantly (001) surfaces. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 9 (1), 2526-2532. doi: 10.3762/bjnano.9.235

Improved catalytic combustion of methane using CuO nanobelts with predominantly (001) surfaces

2018

Journal Article

Enhancing thermoelectric performance of (Cu1-xAgx)2Se via CuAgSe secondary phase and porous design

Liu, Weidi, Shi, Xiaolei, Moshwan, Raza, Hong, Min, Yang, Lei, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zou, Jin (2018). Enhancing thermoelectric performance of (Cu1-xAgx)2Se via CuAgSe secondary phase and porous design. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 17 e00076. doi: 10.1016/j.susmat.2018.e00076

Enhancing thermoelectric performance of (Cu1-xAgx)2Se via CuAgSe secondary phase and porous design

2018

Journal Article

Achieving high thermoelectric performance of Ni/Cu modified Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 composites by a facile electroless plating

Huang, Zhong-Yue, Zhang, He, Yang, Lei, Zhu, Bin, Zheng, Kun, Hong, Min, Yu, Yuan, Zu, Fang-Qiu, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2018). Achieving high thermoelectric performance of Ni/Cu modified Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 composites by a facile electroless plating. Materials Today Energy, 9, 383-390. doi: 10.1016/j.mtener.2018.06.011

Achieving high thermoelectric performance of Ni/Cu modified Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 composites by a facile electroless plating

2018

Journal Article

High-performance SnSe thermoelectric materials: progress and future challenge

Chen, Zhi-Gang, Shi, Xiaolei, Zhao, Li-Dong and Zou, Jin (2018). High-performance SnSe thermoelectric materials: progress and future challenge. Progress in Materials Science, 97, 283-346. doi: 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2018.04.005

High-performance SnSe thermoelectric materials: progress and future challenge

2018

Journal Article

Boosting the thermoelectric performance of p-type heavily Cu-doped polycrystalline SnSe via inducing intensive crystal imperfections and defect phonon scattering

Shi, Xiaolei, Zheng, Kun, Hong, Min, Liu, Weidi, Moshwan, Raza, Wang, Yuan, Qu, Xianlin, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zou, Jin (2018). Boosting the thermoelectric performance of p-type heavily Cu-doped polycrystalline SnSe via inducing intensive crystal imperfections and defect phonon scattering. Chemical Science, 9 (37), 7376-7389. doi: 10.1039/c8sc02397b

Boosting the thermoelectric performance of p-type heavily Cu-doped polycrystalline SnSe via inducing intensive crystal imperfections and defect phonon scattering

2018

Journal Article

Thickness dependence of magnetic behavior of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures

Hu, Hai-Long, Wang, Danyang, Tseng, Allen, Chen, Zhigang, Kong, Charlie, Yi, Jiabao and Li, Sean (2018). Thickness dependence of magnetic behavior of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures. Advanced Materials Interfaces, 5 (13) 1800352, 1800352. doi: 10.1002/admi.201800352

Thickness dependence of magnetic behavior of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures

2018

Journal Article

Recovery TiO2 and sodium titanate nanowires as Cd(II) adsorbent from waste V2O5-WO3/TiO2 selective catalytic reduction catalysts by Na2CO3-NaCl-KCl molten salt roasting method

Song, Chengsheng, Zhou, Dali, Yang, Lei, Zhou, Jiabei, Liu, Can and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2018). Recovery TiO2 and sodium titanate nanowires as Cd(II) adsorbent from waste V2O5-WO3/TiO2 selective catalytic reduction catalysts by Na2CO3-NaCl-KCl molten salt roasting method. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 88, 226-233. doi: 10.1016/j.jtice.2018.04.006

Recovery TiO2 and sodium titanate nanowires as Cd(II) adsorbent from waste V2O5-WO3/TiO2 selective catalytic reduction catalysts by Na2CO3-NaCl-KCl molten salt roasting method

2018

Journal Article

Self-assembled 3D flower-like hierarchical Ti-doped Cu3SbSe4 microspheres with ultralow thermal conductivity and high zT

Zhou, Tian, Wang, Lijun, Zheng, Shuqi, Hong, Min, Fang, Teng, Bai, Peng-Peng, Chang, Siyi, Cui, Wenlin, Shi, Xiaolei, Zhao, Huaizhou and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2018). Self-assembled 3D flower-like hierarchical Ti-doped Cu3SbSe4 microspheres with ultralow thermal conductivity and high zT. Nano Energy, 49, 221-229. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.04.035

Self-assembled 3D flower-like hierarchical Ti-doped Cu3SbSe4 microspheres with ultralow thermal conductivity and high zT

2018

Journal Article

Dual Ag/ZnO-decorated micro-/nanoporous sulfonated polyetheretherketone with superior antibacterial capability and biocompatibility via layer-by-layer self-assembly strategy

Deng, Yi, Yang, Lei, Huang, Xiaobing, Chen, Junhong, Shi, Xiuyuan, Yang, Weizhong, Hong, Min, Wang, Yuan, Dargusch, Matthew S and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2018). Dual Ag/ZnO-decorated micro-/nanoporous sulfonated polyetheretherketone with superior antibacterial capability and biocompatibility via layer-by-layer self-assembly strategy. Macromolecular Bioscience, 18 (7) 1800028, e1800028. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201800028

Dual Ag/ZnO-decorated micro-/nanoporous sulfonated polyetheretherketone with superior antibacterial capability and biocompatibility via layer-by-layer self-assembly strategy

2018

Journal Article

Ultrahigh-performance tungsten-doped perovskites for the oxygen evolution reaction

Chen, Gao, Hu, Zhiwei, Zhu, Yanping, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Zhong, Yijun, Lin, Hong-Ji, Chen, Chien-Te, Tjeng, Liu Hao, Zhou, Wei and Shao, Zongping (2018). Ultrahigh-performance tungsten-doped perovskites for the oxygen evolution reaction. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 6 (21), 9854-9859. doi: 10.1039/c8ta02864h

Ultrahigh-performance tungsten-doped perovskites for the oxygen evolution reaction

2018

Journal Article

Nano-scale dislocations induced by self-vacancy engineering yielding extraordinary n -type thermoelectric Pb 0.96-y In y Se

Hong, Min, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Matsumura, Syo and Zou, Jin (2018). Nano-scale dislocations induced by self-vacancy engineering yielding extraordinary n -type thermoelectric Pb 0.96-y In y Se. Nano Energy, 50, 785-793. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.06.030

Nano-scale dislocations induced by self-vacancy engineering yielding extraordinary n -type thermoelectric Pb 0.96-y In y Se

2018

Journal Article

Atomic insights into phase evolution in ternary transition-metal dichalcogenides nanostructures

Zou, Yi-Chao, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Liu, Shijian, Aso, Kohei, Zhang, Chenxi, Kong, Fantai, Hong, Min, Matsumura, Syo, Cho, Kyeongjae and Zou, Jin (2018). Atomic insights into phase evolution in ternary transition-metal dichalcogenides nanostructures. Small, 14 (22) 1800780, e1800780. doi: 10.1002/smll.201800780

Atomic insights into phase evolution in ternary transition-metal dichalcogenides nanostructures

2018

Journal Article

Bioinspired, biocompatible and peptide-decorated silk fibroin coatings for enhanced osteogenesis of bioinert implant

Wang, Chunyan, Wang, Shengnan, Yang, Yuanyi, Jiang, Zhuo, Deng, Yi, Song, Shaoli, Yang, Weizhong and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2018). Bioinspired, biocompatible and peptide-decorated silk fibroin coatings for enhanced osteogenesis of bioinert implant. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 29 (13), 1-17. doi: 10.1080/09205063.2018.1477316

Bioinspired, biocompatible and peptide-decorated silk fibroin coatings for enhanced osteogenesis of bioinert implant

2018

Journal Article

Realizing high thermoelectric performance in n-type highly distorted Sb-doped SnSe microplates via tuning high electron concentration and inducing intensive crystal defects

Shi, Xiao-Lei, Zheng, Kun, Liu, Wei-Di, Wang, Yuan, Yang, Yu-Zhe, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zou, Jin (2018). Realizing high thermoelectric performance in n-type highly distorted Sb-doped SnSe microplates via tuning high electron concentration and inducing intensive crystal defects. Advanced Energy Materials, 8 (21) 1800775, 1800775. doi: 10.1002/aenm.201800775

Realizing high thermoelectric performance in n-type highly distorted Sb-doped SnSe microplates via tuning high electron concentration and inducing intensive crystal defects

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

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Honorary Professor Zhi-Gang Chen directly for media enquiries about:

  • Engineering
  • Light electronics
  • Lights
  • Nanomaterials
  • Nanostructures
  • Optoelectronic devices

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au