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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

515 works between 2005 and 2025

181 - 200 of 515 works

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

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

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

2021

Journal Article

Advances in conducting polymer-based thermoelectric materials and devices

Cao, Tianyi, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Zou, Jin and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Advances in conducting polymer-based thermoelectric materials and devices. Microstructures, 1 (1) 2021007. doi: 10.20517/microstructures.2021.06

Advances in conducting polymer-based thermoelectric materials and devices

2021

Journal Article

Synergistic band convergence and defect engineering boost thermoelectric performance of SnTe

Dong, Ximeng, Cui, Wenlin, Liu, Wei-Di, Zheng, Shuqi, Gao, Lei, Yue, Luo, Wu, Yue, Wang, Boyi, Zhang, Zipei, Chen, Liqiang and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Synergistic band convergence and defect engineering boost thermoelectric performance of SnTe. Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 86, 204-209. doi: 10.1016/j.jmst.2021.01.040

Synergistic band convergence and defect engineering boost thermoelectric performance of SnTe

2021

Journal Article

Quasi-vertically oriented Sb2Se3 thin-film solar cells with open-circuit voltage exceeding 500 mV prepared via close-space sublimation and selenization

Fan, Ping, Chen, Guo-Jie, Chen, Shuo, Zheng, Zhuang-Hao, Azam, Muhammad, Ahmad, Nafees, Su, Zheng-Hua, Liang, Guang-Xing, Zhang, Xiang-Hua and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Quasi-vertically oriented Sb2Se3 thin-film solar cells with open-circuit voltage exceeding 500 mV prepared via close-space sublimation and selenization. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 13 (39) acsami.1c13223, 46671-46680. doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c13223

Quasi-vertically oriented Sb2Se3 thin-film solar cells with open-circuit voltage exceeding 500 mV prepared via close-space sublimation and selenization

2021

Journal Article

Synergistic texturing and Bi/Sb‐Te antisite doping secure high thermoelectric performance in Bi0.5 Sb1.5 Te3 ‐ based thin films

Tan, Ming, Shi, Xiao‐Lei, Liu, Wei‐Di, Li, Meng, Wang, Yaling, Li, Hui, Deng, Yuan and Chen, Zhi‐Gang (2021). Synergistic texturing and Bi/Sb‐Te antisite doping secure high thermoelectric performance in Bi0.5 Sb1.5 Te3 ‐ based thin films. Advanced Energy Materials, 11 (40) 2102578, 2102578. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202102578

Synergistic texturing and Bi/Sb‐Te antisite doping secure high thermoelectric performance in Bi0.5 Sb1.5 Te3 ‐ based thin films

2021

Journal Article

Ternary Ag2Se1–xTex: a near-room-temperature thermoelectric material with a potentially high figure of merit

Chen, Jie, Yuan, Hualei, Zhu, Yu-Ke, Zheng, Kun, Ge, Zhen-Hua, Tang, Jun, Zhou, Dali, Yang, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Ternary Ag2Se1–xTex: a near-room-temperature thermoelectric material with a potentially high figure of merit. Inorganic Chemistry, 60 (18) acs.inorgchem.1c01563, 14165-14173. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c01563

Ternary Ag2Se1–xTex: a near-room-temperature thermoelectric material with a potentially high figure of merit

2021

Journal Article

Boosting the thermoelectric performance of n-type Bi2S3 by hierarchical structure manipulation and carrier density optimization

Ji, Wenting, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Liu, Wei-Di, Yuan, Hualei, Zheng, Kun, Wan, Biao, Shen, Weixia, Zhang, Zhuangfei, Fang, Chao, Wang, Qianqian, Chen, Liangchao, Zhang, Yuewen, Jia, Xiaopeng and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Boosting the thermoelectric performance of n-type Bi2S3 by hierarchical structure manipulation and carrier density optimization. Nano Energy, 87 106171, 106171. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106171

Boosting the thermoelectric performance of n-type Bi2S3 by hierarchical structure manipulation and carrier density optimization

2021

Journal Article

Self-standing and high-performance B4C/Sn/acetylene black@reduced graphene oxide films as sodium-ion half/full battery anodes

Sun, Yu, Yang, Yanling, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Suo, Guoquan, Lu, Siyu and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Self-standing and high-performance B4C/Sn/acetylene black@reduced graphene oxide films as sodium-ion half/full battery anodes. Applied Materials Today, 24 101137, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.apmt.2021.101137

Self-standing and high-performance B4C/Sn/acetylene black@reduced graphene oxide films as sodium-ion half/full battery anodes

2021

Journal Article

Full-spectrum responsive photocatalytic activity via non-noble metal Bi decorated mulberry-like BiVO4

Bi, Yaxin, Yang, Yanling, Shi, Xiao-Lei, Feng, Lei, Hou, Xiaojiang, Ye, Xiaohui, Zhang, Li, Suo, Guoquan, Lu, Siyu and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Full-spectrum responsive photocatalytic activity via non-noble metal Bi decorated mulberry-like BiVO4. Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 83, 102-112. doi: 10.1016/j.jmst.2020.11.079

Full-spectrum responsive photocatalytic activity via non-noble metal Bi decorated mulberry-like BiVO4

2021

Journal Article

Low lattice thermal conductivity and enhanced thermoelectric performance of SnTe via chemical electroless plating of Ag

Tian, Bang-Zhou, Jiang, Xu-Ping, Chen, Jie, Gao, Han, Wang, Ze-Gao, Tang, Jun, Zhou, Da-Li, Yang, Lei and Chen, Zhi-Gang (2021). Low lattice thermal conductivity and enhanced thermoelectric performance of SnTe via chemical electroless plating of Ag. Rare Metals, 41 (1), 86-95. doi: 10.1007/s12598-021-01805-1

Low lattice thermal conductivity and enhanced thermoelectric performance of SnTe via chemical electroless plating of Ag

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

    Design high-performance fiber-based thermoelectrics for wearable electronics

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Matthew Dargusch, Emeritus Professor Jin Zou

  • 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

    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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of thermoelectric materials

    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

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