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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

504 works between 2005 and 2025

101 - 120 of 504 works

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

2023

Journal Article

Advances in bismuth-telluride-based thermoelectric devices: progress and challenges

Cao, Tianyi, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Li, Meng, Hu, Boxuan, Chen, Wenyi, Liu, Wei-Di, Lyu, Wanyu, MacLeod, Jennifer and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Advances in bismuth-telluride-based thermoelectric devices: progress and challenges. eScience, 3 (3) 100122, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.esci.2023.100122

Advances in bismuth-telluride-based thermoelectric devices: progress and challenges

2023

Journal Article

Minimization of the electrical contact resistance in thin-film thermoelectric device

Tan, Ming, Liu, Wei-Di, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Sun, Qiang and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Minimization of the electrical contact resistance in thin-film thermoelectric device. Applied Physics Reviews, 10 (2) 021404. doi: 10.1063/5.0141075

Minimization of the electrical contact resistance in thin-film thermoelectric device

2023

Journal Article

Tuning the saturated vapor pressure of solvothermal synthesis to boost the thermoelectric performance of pristine Bi2Te3 polycrystals by anisotropy strengthening

Yuan, Jing, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Wang, De-Zhuang, Liu, Wei-Di, Li, Meng, Chen, Wenyi, Yang, Qishuo, Wang, Yifeng, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Tuning the saturated vapor pressure of solvothermal synthesis to boost the thermoelectric performance of pristine Bi2Te3 polycrystals by anisotropy strengthening. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 6 (11), 6227-6236. doi: 10.1021/acsaem.3c00755

Tuning the saturated vapor pressure of solvothermal synthesis to boost the thermoelectric performance of pristine Bi2Te3 polycrystals by anisotropy strengthening

2023

Journal Article

Ultrafast and cost-effective fabrication of high-performance carbon-based flexible thermoelectric hybrid films and their devices

Sun, Shuai, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Li, Meng, Wu, Ting, Yin, Liangcao, Wang, Dezhuang, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Ultrafast and cost-effective fabrication of high-performance carbon-based flexible thermoelectric hybrid films and their devices. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 15 (21), 25650-25660. doi: 10.1021/acsami.3c05226

Ultrafast and cost-effective fabrication of high-performance carbon-based flexible thermoelectric hybrid films and their devices

2023

Book Chapter

Characterizations of thermoelectric ceramics

Shi, Xiao-Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Characterizations of thermoelectric ceramics. Advanced ceramics for energy storage, thermoelectrics and photonics. (pp. 305-326) edited by Peng Cao, Zhi-Gang Chen and Zhiguo Xia. San Diego: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-323-90761-3.00002-4

Characterizations of thermoelectric ceramics

2023

Journal Article

Hierarchical architectural structures induce high performance in n‐type GeTe‐based thermoelectrics

Wang, De‐Zhuang, Liu, Wei‐Di, Li, Meng, Zheng, Kun, Hu, Hanwen, Yin, Liang‐Cao, Wang, Yifeng, Zhu, He, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Yang, Xiaoning, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2023). Hierarchical architectural structures induce high performance in n‐type GeTe‐based thermoelectrics. Advanced Functional Materials, 33 (14) 2213040, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202213040

Hierarchical architectural structures induce high performance in n‐type GeTe‐based thermoelectrics

2023

Journal Article

Self-hygroscopic and smart color-changing hydrogels as coolers for improving energy conversion efficiency of electronics

Mu, Xiaojiang, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Zhou, Jianhua, Chen, Huan, Yang, Tingting, Wang, Yitong, Miao, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Self-hygroscopic and smart color-changing hydrogels as coolers for improving energy conversion efficiency of electronics. Nano Energy, 108 108177, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2023.108177

Self-hygroscopic and smart color-changing hydrogels as coolers for improving energy conversion efficiency of electronics

2023

Journal Article

Rapid room-temperature mechanosynthesis tensile-strained Bi3O4Br for robust photomineralization

Liu, Yanan, Zhang, Yi, Ji, Mengxia, Li, Lina, Wei, Tiange, Zhao, Junze, Chen, Zhigang, Li, Huaming and Xia, Jiexiang (2023). Rapid room-temperature mechanosynthesis tensile-strained Bi3O4Br for robust photomineralization. Catalysis Communications, 177 106638, 106638. doi: 10.1016/j.catcom.2023.106638

Rapid room-temperature mechanosynthesis tensile-strained Bi3O4Br for robust photomineralization

2023

Journal Article

An ultra‐stable sodium half/full battery based on a unique micro‐channel pine‐derived carbon/SnS <sub>2</sub> @reduced graphene oxide film

Sun, Yu, Yang, Yan‐Ling, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Ye, Liyuan, Hou, Yiwei, Wang, Jiaxin, Suo, Guoquan, Lu, Siyu and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2023). An ultra‐stable sodium half/full battery based on a unique micro‐channel pine‐derived carbon/SnS 2 @reduced graphene oxide film. Battery Energy, 2 (2) 20220046, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/bte2.20220046

An ultra‐stable sodium half/full battery based on a unique micro‐channel pine‐derived carbon/SnS <sub>2</sub> @reduced graphene oxide film

2023

Journal Article

Advances in ionic thermoelectrics: from materials to devices

Sun, Shuai, Li, Meng, Shi, Xiao‐Lei and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2023). Advances in ionic thermoelectrics: from materials to devices. Advanced Energy Materials, 13 (9) 2203692. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202203692

Advances in ionic thermoelectrics: from materials to devices

2023

Journal Article

Dispersive localized Ta-rich area and Ta substitution approach ultralow lattice thermal conductivity in CrSi2

Duan, Xingkai, Liu, Wei-Di, Jiang, Yuezhen, Ke, Xiaoli, Hu, Konggang, Shi, Xiao-Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Dispersive localized Ta-rich area and Ta substitution approach ultralow lattice thermal conductivity in CrSi2. Scripta Materialia, 225 115173, 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2022.115173

Dispersive localized Ta-rich area and Ta substitution approach ultralow lattice thermal conductivity in CrSi2

2023

Journal Article

Enhanced Cycling and Structure Stability of an Electron Transfer-Accelerating Polymer Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonate)-Covered Mn-Based Layered Cathode with Ga<sup>3+</sup> Doping for a Li-Ion Battery

Chen, Feng, Dai, Weilong, Zhu, Xinqi, Yao, Congcong, Qian, Junchao, Chen, Zhigang and Liu, Cheng-bao (2023). Enhanced Cycling and Structure Stability of an Electron Transfer-Accelerating Polymer Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonate)-Covered Mn-Based Layered Cathode with Ga3+ Doping for a Li-Ion Battery. Langmuir, 39 (13), 4662-4675. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03462

Enhanced Cycling and Structure Stability of an Electron Transfer-Accelerating Polymer Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonate)-Covered Mn-Based Layered Cathode with Ga<sup>3+</sup> Doping for a Li-Ion Battery

2023

Journal Article

SWCNTs/Ag2Se film with superior bending resistance and enhanced thermoelectric performance via in situ compositing

Hu, Qin-Xue, Liu, Wei-Di, Zhang, Li, Sun, Wei, Gao, Han, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Yang, Yan-Ling, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). SWCNTs/Ag2Se film with superior bending resistance and enhanced thermoelectric performance via in situ compositing. Chemical Engineering Journal, 457 141024, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2022.141024

SWCNTs/Ag2Se film with superior bending resistance and enhanced thermoelectric performance via in situ compositing

2023

Journal Article

Unravelling effective-medium transport and interfacial resistance in (CaTe)x(GeTe)100-x thermoelectrics

Li, Meng, Xu, Sheng-Duo, Lyu, Wan-Yu, Sun, Qiang, Hong, Min, Wang, Yuan, Liu, Ji-Xing, Yin, Yu, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Unravelling effective-medium transport and interfacial resistance in (CaTe)x(GeTe)100-x thermoelectrics. Chemical Engineering Journal, 452 (Part 1) 139269, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2022.139269

Unravelling effective-medium transport and interfacial resistance in (CaTe)x(GeTe)100-x thermoelectrics

2023

Journal Article

Carrier Transport Enhancement Mechanism in Highly Efficient Antimony Selenide Thin-Film Solar Cell

Luo, Yandi, Chen, Guojie, Chen, Shuo, Ahmad, Nafees, Azam, Muhammad, Zheng, Zhuanghao, Su, Zhenghua, Cathelinaud, Michel, Ma, Hongli, Chen, Zhigang, Fan, Ping, Zhang, Xianghua and Liang, Guangxing (2023). Carrier Transport Enhancement Mechanism in Highly Efficient Antimony Selenide Thin-Film Solar Cell. Advanced Functional Materials, 33 (14) 2213941, 1-11. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202213941

Carrier Transport Enhancement Mechanism in Highly Efficient Antimony Selenide Thin-Film Solar Cell

2023

Journal Article

One-step post-treatment boosts thermoelectric properties of PEDOT:PSS flexible thin films

Liu, Xingyu, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Zhang, Li, Liu, Wei-Di, Yang, Yanling and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). One-step post-treatment boosts thermoelectric properties of PEDOT:PSS flexible thin films. Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 132, 81-89. doi: 10.1016/j.jmst.2022.05.047

One-step post-treatment boosts thermoelectric properties of PEDOT:PSS flexible thin films

2023

Journal Article

Advances in versatile GeTe thermoelectrics from materials to devices

Hong, Min, Li, Meng, Wang, Yuan, Shi, Xiao‐Lei and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2023). Advances in versatile GeTe thermoelectrics from materials to devices. Advanced Materials, 35 (2) 2208272, 1-48. doi: 10.1002/adma.202208272

Advances in versatile GeTe thermoelectrics from materials to devices

2023

Journal Article

Advances in Ag2Se-based thermoelectrics from materials to applications

Wu, Hao, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Duan, Jingui, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Advances in Ag2Se-based thermoelectrics from materials to applications. Energy and Environmental Science, 16 (5), 1870-1906. doi: 10.1039/d3ee00378g

Advances in Ag2Se-based thermoelectrics from materials to applications

2023

Journal Article

Advances in the design and assembly of flexible thermoelectric device

Cao, Tianyi, Shi, Xiao-Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2023). Advances in the design and assembly of flexible thermoelectric device. Progress in Materials Science, 131 101003, 1-58. doi: 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2022.101003

Advances in the design and assembly of flexible thermoelectric device

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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