
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
2024
Journal Article
Boosting thermoelectric performance of single-walled carbon nanotubes-based films through rational triple treatments
Liu, Yuan-Meng, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Wu, Ting, Wu, Hao, Mao, Yuanqing, Cao, Tianyi, Wang, De-Zhuang, Liu, Wei-Di, Li, Meng, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2024). Boosting thermoelectric performance of single-walled carbon nanotubes-based films through rational triple treatments. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 3426, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-47417-y
2024
Journal Article
Stable, self‐adhesive, and high‐performance graphene‐oxide‐modified flexible ionogel thermoelectric films
Sun, Shuai, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Lyu, Wanyu, Hong, Min, Chen, Wenyi, Li, Meng, Cao, Tianyi, Hu, Boxuan, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2024). Stable, self‐adhesive, and high‐performance graphene‐oxide‐modified flexible ionogel thermoelectric films. Advanced Functional Materials, 34 (39) 2402823, 1-11. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202402823
2024
Journal Article
Revolution in thermoelectric cooling using PbSe thermoelectrics by grid plainification
Shi, Xiao-Lei, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2024). Revolution in thermoelectric cooling using PbSe thermoelectrics by grid plainification. Science China Materials, 67 (5), 1672-1673. doi: 10.1007/s40843-024-2893-4
2024
Journal Article
Trends in GeTe thermoelectrics: From fundamentals to applications
Li, Meng, Shi, Xiao‐Lei and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2024). Trends in GeTe thermoelectrics: From fundamentals to applications. Advanced Functional Materials, 34 (39) 2403498, 1-35. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202403498
2024
Journal Article
Vertically designed high-performance and flexible thermoelectric generator based on optimized PEDOT:PSS/SWCNTs composite films
Xia, Binjie, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Zhang, Li, Luo, Jia, Chen, Wen-Yi, Hu, Boxuan, Cao, Tianyi, Wu, Ting, Liu, Wei-Di, Yang, Yanling, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2024). Vertically designed high-performance and flexible thermoelectric generator based on optimized PEDOT:PSS/SWCNTs composite films. Chemical Engineering Journal, 486 150305, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.150305
2024
Journal Article
High thermoelectric performance and flexibility in rationally treated PEDOT:PSS fiber bundles
Wu, Ting, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Liu, Wei-Di, Li, Meng, Yue, Fang, Huang, Pei, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2024). High thermoelectric performance and flexibility in rationally treated PEDOT:PSS fiber bundles. Advanced Fiber Materials, 6 (2), 607-618. doi: 10.1007/s42765-024-00374-z
2024
Journal Article
Performance and mechanism of biochar@FeMg-LDH for efficient activation of persulfate for degradation of 2, 4-dichlorophenol in groundwater
Mo, Yuanye, Meng, Xianrong, Liu, Chengbao, Xu, Wei, Zheng, Leizhi, Chen, Feng, Qian, Junchao, Cai, Hui and Chen, Zhigang (2024). Performance and mechanism of biochar@FeMg-LDH for efficient activation of persulfate for degradation of 2, 4-dichlorophenol in groundwater. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31 (15), 22630-22644. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-32456-1
2024
Journal Article
Liquid metal-embraced photoactive films for artificial photosynthesis
Zhen, Chao, Chen, Xiangtao, Chen, Ruotian, Fan, Fengtao, Xu, Xiaoxiang, Kang, Yuyang, Guo, Jingdong, Wang, Lianzhou, Lu, Gao Qing, Domen, Kazunari, Cheng, Hui-Ming and Liu, Gang (2024). Liquid metal-embraced photoactive films for artificial photosynthesis. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 1672, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46073-6
2024
Journal Article
Advancing n-type Mg3+δSb1.5Bi0.47Te0.03-based thermoelectric Zintls via sc-doping-driven band and defect engineering
Yu, Lu, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Mao, Yuanqing, Li, Meng, Liu, Wei-Di, Ji, Zhen, Wei, Sitong, Zhang, Zipei, Song, Weiyu, Zheng, Shuqi and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2024). Advancing n-type Mg3+δSb1.5Bi0.47Te0.03-based thermoelectric Zintls via sc-doping-driven band and defect engineering. Chemical Engineering Journal, 482 149051, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.149051
2024
Journal Article
Flexible power generators by AgSe thin films with record-high thermoelectric performance
Yang, Dong, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Li, Meng, Nisar, Mohammad, Mansoor, Adil, Chen, Shuo, Chen, Yuexing, Li, Fu, Ma, Hongli, Liang, Guang Xing, Zhang, Xianghua, Liu, Weidi, Fan, Ping, Zheng, Zhuanghao and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2024). Flexible power generators by AgSe thin films with record-high thermoelectric performance. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 923, 923. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-45092-7
2024
Journal Article
Decoupling carrier-phonon scattering boosts the thermoelectric performance of n-type GeTe-based materials
Wang, De-Zhuang, Liu, Wei-Di, Mao, Yuanqing, Li, Shuai, Yin, Liang-Cao, Wu, Hao, Li, Meng, Wang, Yifeng, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Yang, Xiaoning, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2024). Decoupling carrier-phonon scattering boosts the thermoelectric performance of n-type GeTe-based materials. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 146 (2), 1681-1689. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c12546
2024
Journal Article
Simultaneously boosting thermoelectric and mechanical properties of n-type Mg3Sb1.5Bi0.5-based zintls through energy-band and defect engineering
Yu, Lu, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Mao, Yuanqing, Liu, Wei-Di, Ji, Zhen, Wei, Sitong, Zhang, Zipei, Song, Weiyu, Zheng, Shuqi and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2024). Simultaneously boosting thermoelectric and mechanical properties of n-type Mg3Sb1.5Bi0.5-based zintls through energy-band and defect engineering. ACS Nano, 18 (2), 1678-1689. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09926
2024
Journal Article
Electron beam lithography of GeTe through polymorphic phase transformation
Zhang, Hu, Li, Meng, Mi, Shao-Bo, Cheng, Shao-Dong, Lu, Lu and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2024). Electron beam lithography of GeTe through polymorphic phase transformation. Nanoscale Horizons, 9 (9), 1574-1581. doi: 10.1039/d4nh00035h
2024
Journal Article
Efficient stepwise carrier concentration optimization in Ge<sub>(1+<i>x</i>)−<i>y</i></sub>Sb<sub><i>y</i></sub>Te
Lyu, Wanyu, Liu, Weidi, Li, Meng, Shi, Xiaolei, Hong, Min, Chen, Wenyi, Cao, Tianyi, Hu, Boxuan, Chen, Yongqi, Guo, Kai and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2024). Efficient stepwise carrier concentration optimization in Ge(1+x)−ySbyTe. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 12 (44), 18004-18008. doi: 10.1039/d4tc03291h
2024
Journal Article
Weavable thermoelectrics: advancements, controversies, and future developments
Shi, Xiao-Lei, Sun, Shuai, Wu, Ting, Tu, Jian, Zhou, Zhiming, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhigang (2024). Weavable thermoelectrics: advancements, controversies, and future developments. Materials Futures, 3 (1) 012103. doi: 10.1088/2752-5724/ad0ca9
2024
Journal Article
Advancing flexible thermoelectrics for integrated electronics
Shi, Xiao-Lei, Wang, Lijun, Lyu, Wanyu, Cao, Tianyi, Chen, Wenyi, Hu, Boxuan and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2024). Advancing flexible thermoelectrics for integrated electronics. Chemical Society Reviews, 53 (18), 9254-9305. doi: 10.1039/d4cs00361f
2024
Journal Article
Advances in solid-state and flexible thermoelectric coolers for battery thermal management systems
Wang, Lijun, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Yue, Yicheng, Li, Lvzhou, Dong, Cuicui, Guan, Jianjun, Ding, Jianning, Yuan, Ningyi and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2024). Advances in solid-state and flexible thermoelectric coolers for battery thermal management systems. Soft Science, 4 (3) 32, 3. doi: 10.20517/ss.2024.15
2023
Journal Article
Cyano-rich carbon nitride with tunable n → π* electronic transition for enhanced broad-spectrum photocatalytic H2O2 production
Sun, Peipei, Mo, Zhao, Zhang, Jinyuan, Wu, Guanyu, Miao, Zhihuan, Zhong, Kang, Wei, Yuechang, Jia, Chunman, Chen, Zhigang and Xu, Hui (2023). Cyano-rich carbon nitride with tunable n → π* electronic transition for enhanced broad-spectrum photocatalytic H2O2 production. Chemical Engineering Journal, 478 147337, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.147337
2023
Journal Article
Gradient tungsten-doped Bi3TiNbO9 ferroelectric photocatalysts with additional built-in electric field for efficient overall water splitting
Huang, Jie, Kang, Yuyang, Liu, Jianan, Yao, Tingting, Qiu, Jianhang, Du, Peipei, Huang, Biaohong, Hu, Weijin, Liang, Yan, Xie, Tengfeng, Chen, Chunlin, Yin, Li-Chang, Wang, Lianzhou, Cheng, Hui-Ming and Liu, Gang (2023). Gradient tungsten-doped Bi3TiNbO9 ferroelectric photocatalysts with additional built-in electric field for efficient overall water splitting. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 7948, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-43837-4
2023
Journal Article
Flexible, recoverable, and efficient photocatalysts: MoS2/TiO2 heterojunctions grown on amorphous carbon-coated carbon textiles
Sun, Yu, Yang, Yan-Ling, Chen, Hua-Jun, Liu, Jiajun, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Suo, Guoquan, Hou, Xiaojiang, Ye, Xiaohui, Zhang, Li, Lu, Siyu and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Flexible, recoverable, and efficient photocatalysts: MoS2/TiO2 heterojunctions grown on amorphous carbon-coated carbon textiles. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 651, 284-295. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.07.177
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
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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