
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
2018
Journal Article
Enhancing thermoelectric performance of Cu-modified Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 by electroless plating and annealing
Huang, Zhongyue, Zhang, He, Zheng, Kun, Dai, Xueting, Yu, Yuan, Cheng, Hefa, Zu, Fangqiu and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2018). Enhancing thermoelectric performance of Cu-modified Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 by electroless plating and annealing. Progress in Natural Science: Materials International, 28 (2), 218-224. doi: 10.1016/j.pnsc.2018.02.007
2018
Journal Article
High performance thermoelectric materials: Progress and their applications
Yang, Lei, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Dargusch, Matthew S. and Zou, Jin (2018). High performance thermoelectric materials: Progress and their applications. Advanced Energy Materials, 8 (6) 1701797, 1701797. doi: 10.1002/aenm.201701797
2018
Journal Article
Atomic disorders in layer structured topological insulator SnBi2Te4 nanoplates
Zou, Yi-Chao, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Zhang, Enze, Kong, Fantai, Lu, Yan, Wang, Lihua, Drennan, John, Wang, Zhongchang, Xiu, Faxian, Cho, Kyeongjae and Zou, Jin (2018). Atomic disorders in layer structured topological insulator SnBi2Te4 nanoplates. Nano Research, 11 (2), 696-706. doi: 10.1007/s12274-017-1679-z
2018
Journal Article
A Novel Hydrogel Surface Grafted With Dual Functional Peptides for Sustaining Long-Term Self-Renewal of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Manipulating Their Osteoblastic Maturation
Deng, Yi, Wei, Shicheng, Yang, Lei, Yang, Weizhong, Dargusch, Matthew S. and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2018). A Novel Hydrogel Surface Grafted With Dual Functional Peptides for Sustaining Long-Term Self-Renewal of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Manipulating Their Osteoblastic Maturation. Advanced Functional Materials, 28 (11) 1705546, 1705546. doi: 10.1002/adfm.201705546
2018
Journal Article
Enhanced antibacterial property and osteo-differentiation activity on plasma treated porous polyetheretherketone with hierarchical micro/nano-topography
Wang, Shengnan, Deng, Yi, Yang, Lei, Shi, Xiuyuan, Yang, Weizhong and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2018). Enhanced antibacterial property and osteo-differentiation activity on plasma treated porous polyetheretherketone with hierarchical micro/nano-topography. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 29 (5), 520-542. doi: 10.1080/09205063.2018.1425181
2018
Conference Publication
Thickness dependence of internal stress in electrodeposited nano-twinned copper
Zhan, S., Yang, Y. L., Peng, W. Y., Chen, J. G., Li, Z. B., Hou, X. J., Feng, L., Suo, G. Q., Chen, Z. G., Zou, J. and Wang, Y. D. (2018). Thickness dependence of internal stress in electrodeposited nano-twinned copper. *, *, *. Sofia, Bulgaria: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
2018
Journal Article
Achieving high Figure of Merit in p-type polycrystalline Sn0.98Se via self-doping and anisotropy-strengthening
Shi, Xiaolei, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Liu, Weidi, Yang, Lei, Hong, Min, Moshwan, Raza, Huang, Liqing and Zou, Jin (2018). Achieving high Figure of Merit in p-type polycrystalline Sn0.98Se via self-doping and anisotropy-strengthening. Energy Storage Materials, 10, 130-138. doi: 10.1016/j.ensm.2017.08.014
2018
Book Chapter
High-performance thermoelectric materials for solar energy application
Yang, Lei, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zou, Jin (2018). High-performance thermoelectric materials for solar energy application. Emerging materials for energy conversion and storage. (pp. 3-38) edited by Kuan Yew Cheong, Giuliana Impellizzeri and Mariana Amorim Fraga. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-813794-9.00001-6
2018
Journal Article
Formation mechanism of titania based opacified glaze with novel core-shell nanostructure
Zhan, Hongquan, Wu, Chuanqi, Deng, Ce, Li, Xiaohong, Xie, Zhipeng, Wang, Changan and Chen, Zhi-gang (2018). Formation mechanism of titania based opacified glaze with novel core-shell nanostructure. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 39 (4), 1668-1674. doi: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2018.12.013
2017
Journal Article
Mechanically driven grain boundary formation in nickel nanowires
Wang, Lihua, Kong, Deli, Zhang, Yin, Xiao, Lirong, Lu, Yan, Chen, Zhigang, Zhang, Ze, Zou, Jin, Zhu, Ting and Han, Xiaodong (2017). Mechanically driven grain boundary formation in nickel nanowires. ACS Nano, 11 (12), 12500-12508. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.7b06605
2017
Journal Article
Granular nanostructure: a facile biomimetic strategy for the design of supertough polymeric materials with high ductility and strength
Song, Pingan, Xu, Zhiguang, Dargusch, Matthew S, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Wang, Hao and Guo, Qipeng (2017). Granular nanostructure: a facile biomimetic strategy for the design of supertough polymeric materials with high ductility and strength. Advanced Materials, 29 (46) 1704661, 1-7. doi: 10.1002/adma.201704661
2017
Journal Article
Attaining ultrahigh thermoelectric performance of direction-solidified bulk n-type Bi2Te2.4Se0.6 via its liquid state treatment
Zhu, Bin, Huang, Zhong-Yue, Wang, Xiao-Yu, Yu, Yuan, Yang, Lei, Gao, Na, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zu, Fang-Qiu (2017). Attaining ultrahigh thermoelectric performance of direction-solidified bulk n-type Bi2Te2.4Se0.6 via its liquid state treatment. Nano Energy, 42, 8-16. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.10.034
2017
Journal Article
Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of Ag-Modified Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 Composites by a Facile Electroless Plating Method
Cao, Shen, Huang, Zhong-Yue, Zu, Fang-Qiu, Xu, Ju, Yang, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2017). Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of Ag-Modified Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 Composites by a Facile Electroless Plating Method. ACS applied materials & interfaces, 9 (42), 36478-36482. doi: 10.1021/acsami.7b11989
2017
Journal Article
High-tensile-strength and ductile novel Ti-Fe-N-B alloys reinforced with TiB nanowires
Huang, Liqing, Qian, Ma, Wang, Lihua , Chen, Zhi-Gang, Shi, Zhiming, Nguyen, Van and Zou, Jin (2017). High-tensile-strength and ductile novel Ti-Fe-N-B alloys reinforced with TiB nanowires. Materials Science and Engineering A, 708, 285-290. doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2017.09.136
2017
Journal Article
Superconductivity and magnetotransport of single-crystalline NbSe2 nanoplates grown by chemical vapour deposition
Zou, Yi-Chao, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Zhang, Enze, Xiu, Faxian, Matsumura, Syo, Yang, Lei, Hong, Min and Zou, Jin (2017). Superconductivity and magnetotransport of single-crystalline NbSe2 nanoplates grown by chemical vapour deposition. Nanoscale, 9 (43), 16591-16595. doi: 10.1039/c7nr06617a
2017
Journal Article
Eco-friendly SnTe thermoelectric materials: progress and future challenges
Moshwan, Raza, Yang, Lei, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2017). Eco-friendly SnTe thermoelectric materials: progress and future challenges. Advanced Function Materials, 27 (43) 1703278, 1703278. doi: 10.1002/adfm.201703278
2017
Journal Article
Thermoelectric performance of Se/Cd codoped SnTe via microwave solvothermal method
Wang, Lijun, Chang, Siyi, Zheng, Shuqi, Fang, Teng, Cui, Wenlin, Bai, Peng-Peng, Yue, Luo and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2017). Thermoelectric performance of Se/Cd codoped SnTe via microwave solvothermal method. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 9 (27), 22612-22619. doi: 10.1021/acsami.7b06083
2017
Journal Article
Enhancing the thermoelectric performance of SnSe1-xTex nanoplates through band engineering
Hong, Min, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Yang, Lei, Chasapis, Thomas C., Kang, Stephen Dongmin, Zou, Yichao, Auchterlonie, Graeme John, Kanatzidis, Mercouri G., Snyder, G. Jeffrey and Zou, Jin (2017). Enhancing the thermoelectric performance of SnSe1-xTex nanoplates through band engineering. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 5 (21), 10713-10721. doi: 10.1039/c7ta02677c
2017
Journal Article
Using intrinsic intracrystalline tunnels for near-infrared and visible-light selective electrochromic modulation
Wang, Zhen, Zhang, Qingzhu, Cong, Shan, Chen, Zhigang, Zhao, Jinxiong, Yang, Mei, Zheng, Zuhui, Zeng, Sha, Yang, Xuwen, Geng, Fengxia and Zhao, Zhigang (2017). Using intrinsic intracrystalline tunnels for near-infrared and visible-light selective electrochromic modulation. Advanced Optical Materials, 5 (11) 1700194, 1700194. doi: 10.1002/adom.201700194
2017
Journal Article
Arrayed van der Waals broadband detectors for dual-band detection
Wang, Peng, Liu, Shanshan, Luo, Wenjin, Fang, Hehai, Gong, Fan, Guo, Nan, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Zou, Jin, Huang, Yan, Zhou, Xiaohao, Wang, Jianlu, Chen, Xiaoshuang, Lu, Wei, Xiu, Faxian and Hu, Weida (2017). Arrayed van der Waals broadband detectors for dual-band detection. Advanced Materials, 29 (16) 1604439. doi: 10.1002/adma.201604439
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
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
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 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
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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
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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