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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

503 works between 2005 and 2025

81 - 100 of 503 works

2023

Journal Article

Advances in flexible inorganic thermoelectrics

Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Cao, Tianyi, Chen, Wenyi, Hu, Boxuan, Sun, Shuai, Liu, Wei‐Di, Li, Meng, Lyu, Wanyu, Hong, Min and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2023). Advances in flexible inorganic thermoelectrics. EcoEnergy, 1 (2), 296-343. doi: 10.1002/ece2.17

Advances in flexible inorganic thermoelectrics

2023

Journal Article

Fast fabrication of high‐performance CoSb3‐based thermoelectric skutterudites via one‐step Yb‐promoted peritectic solidification

Li, Dou, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Feng, Zhenyu, Li, Meng, Zhu, Jiaxi, Ma, Xiao, Zhang, Lili, Zhong, Hong, Liu, Wei‐Di, Li, Shuangming and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2023). Fast fabrication of high‐performance CoSb3‐based thermoelectric skutterudites via one‐step Yb‐promoted peritectic solidification. Advanced Functional Materials, 33 (46) 2305269, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202305269

Fast fabrication of high‐performance CoSb3‐based thermoelectric skutterudites via one‐step Yb‐promoted peritectic solidification

2023

Journal Article

Separation of electric and thermal transport with in-situ precipitates matrix in Ca3Co4O9+δ

Wang, Wenxuan, Liu, Yichen, Xue, Yifan, Yin, Ziqi, Lee, Wen, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Yang, Lei, Koumoto, Kunihito, Yang, Jack, Li, Wenxian and Li, Sean (2023). Separation of electric and thermal transport with in-situ precipitates matrix in Ca3Co4O9+δ. Acta Materialia, 260 119347, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2023.119347

Separation of electric and thermal transport with in-situ precipitates matrix in Ca3Co4O9+δ

2023

Journal Article

Advances in Ag2S-based thermoelectrics for wearable electronics: progress and perspective

Zhu, Min, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Wu, Hao, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Advances in Ag2S-based thermoelectrics for wearable electronics: progress and perspective. Chemical Engineering Journal, 475 146194, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.146194

Advances in Ag2S-based thermoelectrics for wearable electronics: progress and perspective

2023

Journal Article

Solvothermally silver doping boosting the thermoelectric performance of polycrystalline Bi2Te3

Chen, Wen-Yi, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Yang, Qishuo, Li, Meng, Lyu, Wanyu, Liu, Ting, Cao, Tianyi, Hu, Boxuan, Liu, Weidi, Sun, Shuai, Mao, Yuanqing, Dargusch, Matthew, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Solvothermally silver doping boosting the thermoelectric performance of polycrystalline Bi2Te3. Chemical Engineering Journal, 475 146428, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.146428

Solvothermally silver doping boosting the thermoelectric performance of polycrystalline Bi2Te3

2023

Journal Article

Ce‐filled Ni1.5Co2.5Sb12 skutterudite thin films with record‐high figure of merit and device performance

Li, Dou, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Zhu, Jiaxi, Li, Meng, Wang, Jianyuan, Liu, Wei‐Di, Zhao, Qinghua, Zhong, Hong, Li, Shuangming and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2023). Ce‐filled Ni1.5Co2.5Sb12 skutterudite thin films with record‐high figure of merit and device performance. Advanced Energy Materials, 13 (37) 2301525, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202301525

Ce‐filled Ni1.5Co2.5Sb12 skutterudite thin films with record‐high figure of merit and device performance

2023

Journal Article

Optimized Thermoelectric Performance and Plasticity of Ductile Semiconductor Ag<sub>2</sub>S<sub>0.5</sub>Se<sub>0.5</sub> Via Dual‐Phase Engineering

Wu, Hao, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Mao, Yuanqing, Li, Meng, Liu, Wei‐Di, Wang, De‐Zhuang, Yin, Liang‐Cao, Zhu, Min, Wang, Yifeng, Duan, Jingui, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2023). Optimized Thermoelectric Performance and Plasticity of Ductile Semiconductor Ag2S0.5Se0.5 Via Dual‐Phase Engineering. Advanced Energy Materials, 13 (43) 2302551, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202302551

Optimized Thermoelectric Performance and Plasticity of Ductile Semiconductor Ag<sub>2</sub>S<sub>0.5</sub>Se<sub>0.5</sub> Via Dual‐Phase Engineering

2023

Journal Article

Advances in Ag2S-based thermoelectrics for wearable electronics: progress and perspective

Zhu, Min, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Wu, Hao, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Advances in Ag2S-based thermoelectrics for wearable electronics: progress and perspective. Chemical Engineering Journal, 473 145236, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.145236

Advances in Ag2S-based thermoelectrics for wearable electronics: progress and perspective

2023

Journal Article

Roadmap on energy harvesting materials

Pecunia, Vincenzo, Silva, S Ravi P, Phillips, Jamie D, Artegiani, Elisa, Romeo, Alessandro, Shim, Hongjae, Park, Jongsung, Kim, Jin Hyeok, Yun, Jae Sung, Welch, Gregory C, Larson, Bryon W, Creran, Myles, Laventure, Audrey, Sasitharan, Kezia, Flores-Diaz, Natalie, Freitag, Marina, Xu, Jie, Brown, Thomas M, Li, Benxuan, Wang, Yiwen, Li, Zhe, Hou, Bo, Hamadani, Behrang H, Defay, Emmanuel, Kovacova, Veronika, Glinsek, Sebastjan, Kar-Narayan, Sohini, Bai, Yang, Kim, Da Bin ... Joshi, A. P. (2023). Roadmap on energy harvesting materials. Journal of Physics: Materials, 6 (4) 042501, 042501. doi: 10.1088/2515-7639/acc550

Roadmap on energy harvesting materials

2023

Journal Article

Grain boundary re-crystallization and sub-nano regions leading to high plateau figure of merit for Bi<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>3</sub> nanoflakes

Liu, Wei-Di, Yin, Liang-Cao, Li, Lei, Yang, Qishuo, Wang, De-Zhuang, Li, Meng, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Liu, Qingfeng, Bai, Yang, Gentle, Ian, Wang, Lianzhou and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Grain boundary re-crystallization and sub-nano regions leading to high plateau figure of merit for Bi2Te3 nanoflakes. Energy and Environmental Science, 16 (11), 5123-5135. doi: 10.1039/d3ee02370b

Grain boundary re-crystallization and sub-nano regions leading to high plateau figure of merit for Bi<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>3</sub> nanoflakes

2023

Journal Article

Li7La3Zr2O12 coated LiNi0.87Co0.05Mn0.05Al0.03O2 for lithium-ion cells with enhanced performance

Chen, Feng, Bao, Pei, Qian, Junchao, Zhou, Yang, Guan, Xiaodong, Chen, Zhigang, Liu, Chengbao and Liu, Shouqing (2023). Li7La3Zr2O12 coated LiNi0.87Co0.05Mn0.05Al0.03O2 for lithium-ion cells with enhanced performance. Electrochimica Acta, 462 142684, 142684. doi: 10.1016/j.electacta.2023.142684

Li7La3Zr2O12 coated LiNi0.87Co0.05Mn0.05Al0.03O2 for lithium-ion cells with enhanced performance

2023

Journal Article

Performance optimization of a thermoelectric‐water hybrid cooling garment

Li, Lei, Liu, Wei‐Di, Sun, Wei, Wang, De‐Zhuang, Yin, Liang‐Cao, Li, Meng, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2023). Performance optimization of a thermoelectric‐water hybrid cooling garment. Advanced Materials Technologies, 9 (21) 2301069, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/admt.202301069

Performance optimization of a thermoelectric‐water hybrid cooling garment

2023

Journal Article

Metallic W/WO<sub>2</sub> solid-acid catalyst boosts hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline electrolyte

Chen, Zhigang, Gong, Wenbin, Wang, Juan, Hou, Shuang, Yang, Guang, Zhu, Chengfeng, Fan, Xiyue, Li, Yifan, Gao, Rui and Cui, Yi (2023). Metallic W/WO2 solid-acid catalyst boosts hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline electrolyte. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 5363, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41097-w

Metallic W/WO<sub>2</sub> solid-acid catalyst boosts hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline electrolyte

2023

Journal Article

A strategy-purifying wastewater with waste materials: Zn2+ modified waste red mud as recoverable adsorbents with an enhanced removal capacity of congo red

An, Dongdong, Sun, Yu, Yang, Yan-Ling, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Chen, Hua-Jun, Zhang, Li, Suo, Guoquan, Hou, Xiaojiang, Ye, Xiaohui, Lu, Siyu and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). A strategy-purifying wastewater with waste materials: Zn2+ modified waste red mud as recoverable adsorbents with an enhanced removal capacity of congo red. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 645, 694-704. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.04.176

A strategy-purifying wastewater with waste materials: Zn2+ modified waste red mud as recoverable adsorbents with an enhanced removal capacity of congo red

2023

Journal Article

Performance optimization of a dual-thermoelectric-liquid hybrid system for central processing unit cooling

Sun, Wei, Liu, Wei-Di, Li, Lei, Wang, De-Zhuang, Yin, Liang-Cao, Li, Meng, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Performance optimization of a dual-thermoelectric-liquid hybrid system for central processing unit cooling. Energy Conversion and Management, 290 117222, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117222

Performance optimization of a dual-thermoelectric-liquid hybrid system for central processing unit cooling

2023

Journal Article

Advances in printing techniques for thermoelectric materials and devices

Hong, Min, Sun, Shuai, Lyu, Wanyu, Li, Meng, Liu, Weidi, Shi, Xiao-Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Advances in printing techniques for thermoelectric materials and devices. Soft Science, 3 (3) 29. doi: 10.20517/ss.2023.20

Advances in printing techniques for thermoelectric materials and devices

2023

Journal Article

Employing multi-functional SnSe inclusions to boost the thermoelectric performance of the shear-exfoliated Bi2Te2.7Se0.3

Song, Chunchun, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Pan, Lin, Liu, Wei-Di, Sun, Qiang, Li, Meng, Lu, Chunhua, Liu, Qingfeng, Wang, Yifeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Employing multi-functional SnSe inclusions to boost the thermoelectric performance of the shear-exfoliated Bi2Te2.7Se0.3. Acta Materialia, 254 119023, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2023.119023

Employing multi-functional SnSe inclusions to boost the thermoelectric performance of the shear-exfoliated Bi2Te2.7Se0.3

2023

Journal Article

Approaching high thermoelectric performance in p-type Cu3SbS4-based materials by rational electronic and nano/microstructural engineering

Yang, Jingwen, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Yang, Qishuo, Shen, Weixia, Li, Meng, Zhang, Zhuangfei, Liu, Wei-Di, Fang, Chao, Mao, Yuanqing, Wang, Qianqian, Chen, Liangchao, Wan, Biao, Zhang, Yuewen, Jia, Xiaopeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Approaching high thermoelectric performance in p-type Cu3SbS4-based materials by rational electronic and nano/microstructural engineering. Chemical Engineering Journal, 469 143965, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.143965

Approaching high thermoelectric performance in p-type Cu3SbS4-based materials by rational electronic and nano/microstructural engineering

2023

Journal Article

Condensed point defects enhance thermoelectric performance of rare-earth Lu-doped GeTe

Lyu, Wan-Yu, Liu, Wei-Di, Li, Meng, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Hong, Min, Cao, Tianyi, Guo, Kai, Luo, Jun, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Condensed point defects enhance thermoelectric performance of rare-earth Lu-doped GeTe. Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 151, 227-233. doi: 10.1016/j.jmst.2023.01.004

Condensed point defects enhance thermoelectric performance of rare-earth Lu-doped GeTe

2023

Journal Article

Interstitial Cu: an effective strategy for high carrier mobility and high thermoelectric performance in GeTe

Yin, Liang‐Cao, Liu, Wei‐Di, Li, Meng, Wang, De‐Zhuang, Wu, Hao, Wang, Yifeng, Zhang, Lixiong, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2023). Interstitial Cu: an effective strategy for high carrier mobility and high thermoelectric performance in GeTe. Advanced Functional Materials, 33 (25) 2301750, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202301750

Interstitial Cu: an effective strategy for high carrier mobility and high thermoelectric performance in GeTe

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

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