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

515 works between 2005 and 2025

361 - 380 of 515 works

2017

Journal Article

Room-temperature chiral charge pumping in Dirac semimetals

Zhang, Cheng, Zhang, Enze, Wang, Weiyi, Liu, Yanwen, Chen, Zhi-Gang , Lu, Shiheng, Liang, Sihang, Cao, Junzhi, Yuan, Xiang, Tang, Lei, Li, Qian, Zhou, Chao, Gu, Teng, Wu, Yizheng, Zou, Jin and Xiu, Faxian (2017). Room-temperature chiral charge pumping in Dirac semimetals. Nature Communications, 8 (1) 13741, 13741. doi: 10.1038/ncomms13741

Room-temperature chiral charge pumping in Dirac semimetals

2017

Journal Article

N-type Bi-doped PbTe nanocubes with enhanced thermoelectric performance

Yang, Lei, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Hong, Min, Wang, Lihua, Kong, Deli, Huang, Liqing, Han, Guang, Zou, Yichao, Dargusch, Matthew and Zou, Jin (2017). N-type Bi-doped PbTe nanocubes with enhanced thermoelectric performance. Nano Energy, 31, 105-112. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.11.027

N-type Bi-doped PbTe nanocubes with enhanced thermoelectric performance

2016

Journal Article

Surface-energy engineered Bi-doped SnTe nanoribbons with weak antilocalization effect and linear magnetoresistance

Zou, Yi-Chao, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Kong, Fantai, Zhang, Enze, Drennan, John, Cho, Kyeongjae, Xiu, Faxian and Zou, Jin (2016). Surface-energy engineered Bi-doped SnTe nanoribbons with weak antilocalization effect and linear magnetoresistance. Nanoscale, 8 (46), 19383-19389. doi: 10.1039/c6nr07140f

Surface-energy engineered Bi-doped SnTe nanoribbons with weak antilocalization effect and linear magnetoresistance

2016

Journal Article

Oxygen vacancy dependence of magnetic behavior in the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures

Hu, Hai-Long, Ao, Lei, Pham, Anh, Wang, Danyang, Wang, Yu, Chen, Zhigang, Kong, Charlie, Tan, Thian Teck, Zu, Xiaotao and Li, Sean (2016). Oxygen vacancy dependence of magnetic behavior in the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures. Advanced Materials Interfaces, 3 (20) 1600547, 1600547. doi: 10.1002/admi.201600547

Oxygen vacancy dependence of magnetic behavior in the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures

2016

Journal Article

Limit of zT enhancement in rocksalt structured chalcogenides by band convergence

Hong, Min, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Pei, Yanzhong, Yang, Lei and Zou, Jin (2016). Limit of zT enhancement in rocksalt structured chalcogenides by band convergence. Physical Review B, 94 (16) 161201. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.94.161201

Limit of zT enhancement in rocksalt structured chalcogenides by band convergence

2016

Journal Article

Tunable ambipolar polarization-sensitive photodetectors based on high-anisotropy ReSe2 nanosheets

Zhang, Enze, Wang, Peng, Li, Zhe, Wang, Haifeng, Song, Chaoyu, Huang, Ce, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Yang, Lei, Zhang, Kaitai, Lu, Shiheng, Wang, Weiyi, Liu, Shanshan, Fang, Hehai, Zhou, Xiaohao, Yang, Hugen, Zou, Jin, Wan, Xiangang, Zhou, Peng, Hu, Weida and Xiu, Faxian (2016). Tunable ambipolar polarization-sensitive photodetectors based on high-anisotropy ReSe2 nanosheets. ACS Nano, 10 (8), 8067-8077. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.6b04165

Tunable ambipolar polarization-sensitive photodetectors based on high-anisotropy ReSe2 nanosheets

2016

Journal Article

Zeeman splitting and dynamical mass generation in Dirac semimetal ZrTe5

Liu, Yanwen, Yuan, Xiang, Zhang, Cheng, Jin, Zhao, Narayan, Awadhesh, Luo, Chen, Chen, Zhigang, Yang, Lei, Zou, Jin, Wu, Xing, Sanvito, Stefano, Xia, Zhengcai, Li, Liang, Wang, Zhong and Xiu, Faxian (2016). Zeeman splitting and dynamical mass generation in Dirac semimetal ZrTe5. Nature Communications, 7 (1) 12516, 12516. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12516

Zeeman splitting and dynamical mass generation in Dirac semimetal ZrTe5

2016

Journal Article

Impacts of Cu deficiency on the thermoelectric properties of Cu2-XSe nanoplates

Yang, Lei, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Han, Guang, Hong, Min and Zou, Jin (2016). Impacts of Cu deficiency on the thermoelectric properties of Cu2-XSe nanoplates. Acta Materialia, 113, 140-146. doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2016.04.050

Impacts of Cu deficiency on the thermoelectric properties of Cu2-XSe nanoplates

2016

Journal Article

Te-doped Cu2Se nanoplates with a high average thermoelectric figure of merit

Yang, Lei, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Han, Guang, Hong, Min, Huang, Liqing and Zou, Jin (2016). Te-doped Cu2Se nanoplates with a high average thermoelectric figure of merit. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 4 (23), 9213-9219. doi: 10.1039/c6ta02998a

Te-doped Cu2Se nanoplates with a high average thermoelectric figure of merit

2016

Journal Article

Subtle interplay between localized magnetic moments and itinerant electrons in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures

Hu, Hai-Long, Zeng, Rong, Pham, Anh, Tan, Thiam Teck, Chen, Zhigang, Kong, Charlie, Wang, Danyang and Li, Sean (2016). Subtle interplay between localized magnetic moments and itinerant electrons in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 8 (21), 13630-13636. doi: 10.1021/acsami.6b01518

Subtle interplay between localized magnetic moments and itinerant electrons in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures

2016

Journal Article

Planar vacancies in Sn1-xBixTe nanoribbons

Zou, Yi-Chao, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Kong, Fantai, Lin, Jing, Drennan, John, Cho, Kyeongjae, Wang, Zhongchang and Zou, Jin (2016). Planar vacancies in Sn1-xBixTe nanoribbons. ACS Nano, 10 (5), 5507-5515. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.6b01953

Planar vacancies in Sn1-xBixTe nanoribbons

2016

Journal Article

Enhancing thermoelectric performance of Bi2Te3-based nanostructures through rational structure design

Hong, Min, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Yang, Lei and Zou, Jin (2016). Enhancing thermoelectric performance of Bi2Te3-based nanostructures through rational structure design. Nanoscale, 8 (16), 8681-8686. doi: 10.1039/c6nr00719h

Enhancing thermoelectric performance of Bi2Te3-based nanostructures through rational structure design

2016

Journal Article

n-Type Bi2Te3-xSex nanoplates with enhanced thermoelectric efficiency driven by wide-frequency phonon scatterings and synergistic carrier scatterings

Hong, Min, Chasapis, Thomas C., Chen, Zhi-Gang, Yang, Lei, Kanatzidis, Mercouri G., Snyder, G. Jeffrey and Zou, Jin (2016). n-Type Bi2Te3-xSex nanoplates with enhanced thermoelectric efficiency driven by wide-frequency phonon scatterings and synergistic carrier scatterings. ACS Nano, 10 (4), 4719-4727. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.6b01156

n-Type Bi2Te3-xSex nanoplates with enhanced thermoelectric efficiency driven by wide-frequency phonon scatterings and synergistic carrier scatterings

2016

Journal Article

Defect-driven oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of carbon without any element doping

Zhao, Xiaojun, Zou, Xiaoqin, Yan, Xuecheng, Brown, Christopher L., Chen, Zhigang, Zhu, Guangshan and Yao, Xiangdong (2016). Defect-driven oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of carbon without any element doping. Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers, 3 (3), 417-421. doi: 10.1039/c5qi00236b

Defect-driven oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of carbon without any element doping

2016

Journal Article

BixSb2-xTe3 nanoplates with enhanced thermoelectric performance due to sufficiently decoupled electronic transport properties and strong wide-frequency phonon scatterings

Hong, Min, Chen, Zhi G., Yang, Lei and Zou, Jin (2016). BixSb2-xTe3 nanoplates with enhanced thermoelectric performance due to sufficiently decoupled electronic transport properties and strong wide-frequency phonon scatterings. Nano Energy, 20, 144-155. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2015.12.009

BixSb2-xTe3 nanoplates with enhanced thermoelectric performance due to sufficiently decoupled electronic transport properties and strong wide-frequency phonon scatterings

2016

Journal Article

Co-doped Sb2Te3 paramagnetic nanoplates

Yang, Lei, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Nie, Tianxiao, Han, Guang, Zhang, Zhi, Hong, Min, Wang, Kang L. and Zou, Jin (2016). Co-doped Sb2Te3 paramagnetic nanoplates. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 4 (3), 521-525. doi: 10.1039/c5tc03767k

Co-doped Sb2Te3 paramagnetic nanoplates

2016

Book Chapter

Layer-structured thermoelectric materials: fundamentals, strategies and progress

Chen, Zhi-Gang and Zou, Jin (2016). Layer-structured thermoelectric materials: fundamentals, strategies and progress. Two-dimensional nanostructures for energy-related applications. (pp. 23-47) edited by Kuan Yew Cheong. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781315369877

Layer-structured thermoelectric materials: fundamentals, strategies and progress

2015

Journal Article

Periodicity dependence of the built-in electric field in (Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3/Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 ferroelectric superlattices

Lin, Qianru, Wang, Danyang, Chen, Zhigang, Liu, Wenfeng, Lim, Sean and Li, Sean (2015). Periodicity dependence of the built-in electric field in (Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3/Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 ferroelectric superlattices. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 7 (47), 26301-26306. doi: 10.1021/acsami.5b08943

Periodicity dependence of the built-in electric field in (Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3/Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 ferroelectric superlattices

2015

Journal Article

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of nanostructured Bi2Te3 through significant phonon scattering

Yang, Lei, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Hong, Min, Han, Guang and Zou, Jin (2015). Enhanced thermoelectric performance of nanostructured Bi2Te3 through significant phonon scattering. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 7 (42), 23694-23699. doi: 10.1021/acsami.5b07596

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of nanostructured Bi2Te3 through significant phonon scattering

2015

Journal Article

Magnetoinfrared Spectroscopy of Landau Levels and Zeeman Splitting of Three-Dimensional Massless Dirac Fermions in ZrTe5

Chen, R. Y., Chen, Z. G., Song, X. Y., Schneeloch, J. A., Gu, G. D., Wang, F. and Wang, N. L. (2015). Magnetoinfrared Spectroscopy of Landau Levels and Zeeman Splitting of Three-Dimensional Massless Dirac Fermions in ZrTe5. Physical Review Letters, 115 (17) 176404. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.176404

Magnetoinfrared Spectroscopy of Landau Levels and Zeeman Splitting of Three-Dimensional Massless Dirac Fermions in ZrTe5

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

Need help?

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

communications@uq.edu.au