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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

522 works between 2005 and 2025

181 - 200 of 522 works

2022

Journal Article

Thermoelectric performance of p-type (Bi,Sb)2Te3 incorporating amorphous Sb2S3 nanospheres

Bao, Deyu, Sun, Qiang, Huang, Linsen, Chen, Jie, Tang, Jun, Zhou, Dali, Hong, Min, Yang, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2022). Thermoelectric performance of p-type (Bi,Sb)2Te3 incorporating amorphous Sb2S3 nanospheres. Chemical Engineering Journal, 430 (Part 1) 132738, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2021.132738

Thermoelectric performance of p-type (Bi,Sb)2Te3 incorporating amorphous Sb2S3 nanospheres

2022

Journal Article

Flexible hollow TiO2@CMS/carbon-fiber van der Waals heterostructures for simulated-solar light photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis

Chen, Hua-Jun, Yang, Yan-Ling, Zou, Xin-Xin, Shi, Xiao-Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2022). Flexible hollow TiO2@CMS/carbon-fiber van der Waals heterostructures for simulated-solar light photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis. Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 98, 143-150. doi: 10.1016/j.jmst.2021.05.009

Flexible hollow TiO2@CMS/carbon-fiber van der Waals heterostructures for simulated-solar light photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis

2022

Journal Article

N-doped silk wadding-derived carbon/SnOx@reduced graphene oxide film as an ultra-stable anode for sodium-ion half/full battery

Sun, Yu, Yang, Yanling, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Suo, Guoquan, Xue, Fan, Liu, Jiajun, Lu, Siyu and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2022). N-doped silk wadding-derived carbon/SnOx@reduced graphene oxide film as an ultra-stable anode for sodium-ion half/full battery. Chemical Engineering Journal, 433 (Part 3) 133675, 133675. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2021.133675

N-doped silk wadding-derived carbon/SnOx@reduced graphene oxide film as an ultra-stable anode for sodium-ion half/full battery

2022

Journal Article

Achieving high-performance n-type PbTe via synergistically optimizing effective mass and carrier concentration and suppressing lattice thermal conductivity

Liu, Hang-Tian, Sun, Qiang, Zhong, Yan, Xia, Cheng-Liang, Chen, Yue, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Ang, Ran (2022). Achieving high-performance n-type PbTe via synergistically optimizing effective mass and carrier concentration and suppressing lattice thermal conductivity. Chemical Engineering Journal, 428 132601, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2021.132601

Achieving high-performance n-type PbTe via synergistically optimizing effective mass and carrier concentration and suppressing lattice thermal conductivity

2022

Journal Article

Thermoelectric coolers: progress, challenges and opportunities

Chen, Wen‐Yi, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2022). Thermoelectric coolers: progress, challenges and opportunities. Small Methods, 6 (2) 2101235, 2101235. doi: 10.1002/smtd.202101235

Thermoelectric coolers: progress, challenges and opportunities

2022

Journal Article

High thermoelectric and mechanical performance in the n-type polycrystalline SnSe incorporated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Mao, Xin-Yu, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Zhai, Liang-Chuang, Liu, Wei-Di, Chen, Yue-Xing, Gao, Han, Li, Meng, Wang, De-Zhuang, Wu, Hao, Zheng, Zhuang-Hao, Wang, Yi-Feng, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2022). High thermoelectric and mechanical performance in the n-type polycrystalline SnSe incorporated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 114, 55-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jmst.2021.12.002

High thermoelectric and mechanical performance in the n-type polycrystalline SnSe incorporated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

2021

Journal Article

Novel thermal diffusion temperature engineering leading to high thermoelectric performance in Bi2Te3-based flexible thin-films

Ao, Dong-Wei, Liu, Wei-Di, Chen, Yue-Xing, Wei, Meng, Jabar, Bushra, Li, Fu, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Zheng, Zhuang-Hao, Liang, Guang-Xing, Zhang, Xiang-Hua, Fan, Ping and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Novel thermal diffusion temperature engineering leading to high thermoelectric performance in Bi2Te3-based flexible thin-films. Advanced Science, 9 (5) 2103547, e2103547. doi: 10.1002/advs.202103547

Novel thermal diffusion temperature engineering leading to high thermoelectric performance in Bi2Te3-based flexible thin-films

2021

Journal Article

High carrier mobility and high figure of merit in the CuBiSe2 alloyed GeTe

Yin, Liang‐Cao, Liu, Wei‐Di, Li, Meng, Sun, Qiang, Gao, Han, Wang, De‐Zhuang, Wu, Hao, Wang, Yi‐Feng, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Liu, Qingfeng and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2021). High carrier mobility and high figure of merit in the CuBiSe2 alloyed GeTe. Advanced Energy Materials, 11 (45) 2102913, 2102913. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202102913

High carrier mobility and high figure of merit in the CuBiSe2 alloyed GeTe

2021

Journal Article

Achieving high‐performance Ge0.92 Bi0.08 Te thermoelectrics via LaB 6 ‐alloying‐induced band engineering and multi‐scale structure manipulation

Sun, Qiang, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Hong, Min, Yin, Yu, Xu, Sheng‐Duo, Chen, Jie, Yang, Lei, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2021). Achieving high‐performance Ge0.92 Bi0.08 Te thermoelectrics via LaB 6 ‐alloying‐induced band engineering and multi‐scale structure manipulation. Small, 18 (6) 2105923, 2105923. doi: 10.1002/smll.202105923

Achieving high‐performance Ge0.92 Bi0.08 Te thermoelectrics via LaB 6 ‐alloying‐induced band engineering and multi‐scale structure manipulation

2021

Journal Article

Two-dimensional flexible thermoelectric devices: Using modeling to deliver optimal capability

Xu, Shengduo, Hong, Min, Li, Meng, Sun, Qiang, Yin, Yu, Liu, Weidi, Shi, Xiaolei, Dargusch, Matthew, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Two-dimensional flexible thermoelectric devices: Using modeling to deliver optimal capability. Applied Physics Reviews, 8 (4) 041404, 1-8. doi: 10.1063/5.0067930

Two-dimensional flexible thermoelectric devices: Using modeling to deliver optimal capability

2021

Journal Article

Molybdenum-promoted surface reconstruction in polymorphic cobalt for initiating rapid oxygen evolution

Bai, Juan, Mei, Jun, Liao, Ting, Sun, Qiang, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Sun, Ziqi (2021). Molybdenum-promoted surface reconstruction in polymorphic cobalt for initiating rapid oxygen evolution. Advanced Energy Materials, 12 (5) 2103247, 2103247. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202103247

Molybdenum-promoted surface reconstruction in polymorphic cobalt for initiating rapid oxygen evolution

2021

Journal Article

Enhanced thermoelectric performance in MXene/SnTe nanocomposites synthesized via a facile one-step solvothermal method

Jiang, Xu-Ping, Tian, Bang-Zhou, Sun, Qiang, Li, Xu-Liang, Chen, Jie, Tang, Jun, Zhang, Ping, Yang, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Enhanced thermoelectric performance in MXene/SnTe nanocomposites synthesized via a facile one-step solvothermal method. Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 304 122605, 122605. doi: 10.1016/j.jssc.2021.122605

Enhanced thermoelectric performance in MXene/SnTe nanocomposites synthesized via a facile one-step solvothermal method

2021

Journal Article

Thermoelectric coolers as thermal management systems for medical applications: design, optimization, and advancement

Zaferani, Sadeq Hooshmand, Sams, Michael W., Ghomashchi, Reza and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Thermoelectric coolers as thermal management systems for medical applications: design, optimization, and advancement. Nano Energy, 90 106572, 106572. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106572

Thermoelectric coolers as thermal management systems for medical applications: design, optimization, and advancement

2021

Journal Article

In-situ growth of high-performance (Ag, Sn) co-doped CoSb3 thermoelectric thin films

Zheng, Zhuang-Hao, Niu, Jun-Yun, Ao, Dong-Wei, Jabar, Bushra, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Li, Xin-Ru, Li, Fu, Liang, Guang-Xing, Chen, Yue-Xing, Chen, Zhi-Gang and Fan, Ping (2021). In-situ growth of high-performance (Ag, Sn) co-doped CoSb3 thermoelectric thin films. Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 92, 178-185. doi: 10.1016/j.jmst.2021.04.007

In-situ growth of high-performance (Ag, Sn) co-doped CoSb3 thermoelectric thin films

2021

Journal Article

Ce filling limit and its influence on thermoelectric performance of Fe3CoSb12-based skutterudite grown by a temperature gradient zone melting method

Li, Xu-Guang, Liu, Wei-Di, Li, Shuang-Ming, Li, Dou, Zhu, Jia-Xi, Feng, Zhen-Yu, Yang, Bin, Zhong, Hong, Shi, Xiao-Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Ce filling limit and its influence on thermoelectric performance of Fe3CoSb12-based skutterudite grown by a temperature gradient zone melting method. Materials, 14 (22) 6810, 6810. doi: 10.3390/ma14226810

Ce filling limit and its influence on thermoelectric performance of Fe3CoSb12-based skutterudite grown by a temperature gradient zone melting method

2021

Journal Article

Impurity removal leading to high-performance CoSb3-based skutterudites with synergistic carrier concentration optimization and thermal conductivity reduction

Li, Xu-Guang, Liu, Wei-Di, Li, Shuang-Ming, Li, Dou, Zhong, Hong and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Impurity removal leading to high-performance CoSb3-based skutterudites with synergistic carrier concentration optimization and thermal conductivity reduction. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 13 (45) acsami.1c16622, 54185-54193. doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c16622

Impurity removal leading to high-performance CoSb3-based skutterudites with synergistic carrier concentration optimization and thermal conductivity reduction

2021

Journal Article

Simultaneously enhanced strength and plasticity of Ag2Se-based thermoelectric materials endowed by nano-twinned CuAgSe secondary phase

Chen, Jie, Sun, Qiang, Bao, Deyu, Tian, Bang-Zhou, Wang, Zegao, Tang, Jun, Zhou, Dali, Yang, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Simultaneously enhanced strength and plasticity of Ag2Se-based thermoelectric materials endowed by nano-twinned CuAgSe secondary phase. Acta Materialia, 220 117335, 117335. doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2021.117335

Simultaneously enhanced strength and plasticity of Ag2Se-based thermoelectric materials endowed by nano-twinned CuAgSe secondary phase

2021

Journal Article

Environmentally-friendly harvesting TiO2 nanospheres and V2O5 microrods from spent selective catalytic reduction catalysts

Chen, Hua-Jun, Wang, Rui, Yang, Yan-Ling, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Lu, Siyu and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Environmentally-friendly harvesting TiO2 nanospheres and V2O5 microrods from spent selective catalytic reduction catalysts. Progress in Natural Science: Materials International, 31 (6), 858-864. doi: 10.1016/j.pnsc.2021.10.002

Environmentally-friendly harvesting TiO2 nanospheres and V2O5 microrods from spent selective catalytic reduction catalysts

2021

Journal Article

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of SnTe-based materials via interface engineering

Tian, Bang-Zhou, Chen, Jie, Jiang, Xu-Ping, Tang, Jun, Zhou, Da-Li, Sun, Qiang, Yang, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Enhanced thermoelectric performance of SnTe-based materials via interface engineering. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 13 (42) acsami.1c16053, 50057-50064. doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c16053

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of SnTe-based materials via interface engineering

2021

Journal Article

Advances and challenges in 2D MXenes: from structures to energy storage and conversions

Meng, Weixue, Liu, Xingjiang, Song, Haoqiang, Xie, Yu, Shi, Xiaolei, Dargusch, Matthew, Chen, Zhi-Gang, Tang, Zhiyong and Lu, Siyu (2021). Advances and challenges in 2D MXenes: from structures to energy storage and conversions. Nano Today, 40 101273, 101273. doi: 10.1016/j.nantod.2021.101273

Advances and challenges in 2D MXenes: from structures to energy storage and conversions

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

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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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