Professor Cheng Yan
Faculty of Engineering,
School of Mech., Medical & Process Engineering
Biography
Broad Area of Research: Material science and engineering, Nanotechnology, Energy storage, Mechanical characterisation & numerical modelling, BiofabricationProf. Cheng Yan and his team are conducting the research in the following areas:
- Structural and functional materials:
Research focus: 1) developing fibre and particle reinforced polymer composites with tailored mechanical, electrical and thermal properties for applications in light weight structural materials and functional materials (e. g. strain sensors and actuators); 2) structure-property relationship in light alloys (Mg and Al), metallic glasses and dissimilar welds.
- Nanomaterials and nanoscale characterisation:
Research focus: 1) synthesis of graphene, graphene hydrogel, MoS2, nanotubes, nanocomposites; 2) mechanical characterization and modelling of nano and 2D materials (e.g. graphene, BN, MOF, nanowires, multi-layer thin films, protein-mineral interface);
- Energy storage materials and electrochemistry-mechanics coupling:
Research focus: 1) developing high performance electrode materials and binders for rechargeable batteries (Li-ion, Na-ion, Li-S, Li metal, all solid and Zn-air batteries); 2) in-situ characterization and modelling of coupled electrochemistry-mechanics problems (e.g. structure instability in Si anode, dendrite growth, cracking in solid state electrolyte); 3) metallic alloys for hydrogen storage.
- Biofabrication:
Research focus: 1) fabrication and characterization of implants and scaffolds with hierarchical structures via combined additive manufacturing and freeze casting; 2) investigating strengthening and toughening mechanisms in biomaterial (e.g. bone and nacre) for development of bioinspired materials.
- Solid mechanics and numerical modelling:
Research focus: 1) fatigue, fracture mechanics and mechanical behaviour of materials at different length scales; 2) numerical modelling using finite element analysis, molecular dynamics and density function theory.
Grants Prof. Yan has received A$9 million research funds, including 19 grants from Australian Research Council (ARC). Selected Grants from ARC
- ARC Discovery-Project (DP210103266), 2021-2023 (A$562,309, CI) Recyclable and rechargeable all-solid-state sodium ion batteries
- ARC Discovery-Project (DP180102003), 2018-2020 (A$412,993, 1st CI) Characterization of mechanical behavior of lithiated silicon
- ARC Discovery-Project (DP180101955), 2018-2020 (A$408,011, CI) Bio-inspired design to overcome strength-toughness trade-off composites
- ARC Discovery-Project (DP150101717), 2015-2017 (A$295,900, 1st CI) Characterization of mechanical behavior of TiO2 nanotube thin films
- ARC Discovery-Project (DP0344929), 2003-2007 (A$449K, 1st CI), Characterization of soldered and adhesively bonded assemblies in photonic packages
- ARC Discovery-Project (DP0559237), 2005-2007, A$168K, 1st CI, Development of deformation-failure-mechanism based parameters for design of microstructured optical fibre and photonics assembly
- ARC Linkage-Project (LP200200965), 2021-2023 (A$366,516, CI), High performance bioderived hybrid fillers for rubber composite production
- ARC Linkage-Project (LP100200318), 2009-2012 (A$216,000, CI), A new generation high crash energy absorbing barrier for improved road safety.
- ARC Linkage-Project (LP0990514), 2008-2011 (A$156, 840, CI), Development of thin bed concrete masonry structural walls.
- ARC LIEF (LE190100066), 2019 (A$438, 783, CI) A femtosecond laser micromachining facility for a wide range ofmaterials.
- ARC LIEF (LE180100090), 2018 (A$1,136,244, CI) Xe-plasma dual beam for advanced future materials
- ARC LIEF (LE130100036), 2013 (A$310,000, CI) Super high speed grinding facility for difficult-to-machine materials and structure
- ARC LIEF (LE120100121), 2012 (A$270,000, first CI) An integrated system for characterization of mechanical behaviour of bio- and nanomaterials at micro and nano scales in Queensland.
- ARC LIEF (LE120100036), 2012 (A$440,000, CI) National in-situ transmission electron microscope facilities.
- ARC LIEF (LE130100036), 2013 (A$310,000, CI) Super high speed grinding facility for difficult-to-machine materials and structure.
- ARC LIEF (LE110100017), 2011 (A$300,000, CI) An integrated system for measuring thermoelectric properties of advanced materials.
- ARC LIEF (LE0989804), 2009 (A$150K, CI), A universal nano-tribometer for surface and thin film characterisation.
- ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (F89800824), 1998-2001 (A$203K, fellow), Fracture behavior of mis-matched interface cracks
Selected list of Awards and Recognitions
- Inaugural Queensland International Fellowship & category winner (2009)
- ARC Australian Research Fellowship (ARF), Australia Research Council (2003)
- ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (APD), Australia Research Council (1998)
- Sesqui Postdoctoral Fellowship, The University of Sydney (2002)
- Vice Chancellor Performance Award, 2014, QUT
- Vice Chancellor Performance Award, 2011, QUT
- Vice Chancellor Performance Award, 2010, QUT
- Guest Scientist in State Key Laboratory for Strength of Materials, China High Education Committee (2000 – 2001).
- Overseas Postgraduate Research Scholarship (OPRS), Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs of Australia (1994 – 1997).
- Sydney University Postgraduate Research Scholarship, 1994-1997.
- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visiting scientist, 1987-1988.
Career History
- 2015 – Present: Professor, School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology
- 2006 – 2015: Senior lecturer/associate professor, School of Engineering Systems, Queensland University of Technology
- 2003 – 2007: ARC Australian Research Fellow (ARF), School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney
- 1998 – 2001: ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellow (APD), Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney
Personal details
Positions
- Professor
Faculty of Engineering,
School of Mech., Medical & Process Engineering
Keywords
Structural and functional materials, Nanomaterials and nanoscale characterisation, Energy storage materials and electrochemistry-mechanics coupling, Biofabrication, Solid mechanics and numerical modelling
Research field
Materials Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- Phd in Engineering (University of Sydney)
Professional memberships and associations
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
- ARC Australian Research Network for Advanced Materials
- Materials Australia
- Engineers Australia
Teaching
- Advanced Materials and engineering applications
- Strength of Materials
- Tribology
Experience
- Tohoku University, Japan
- Johns Hopkins University, USA
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
- National University of Singapore
Professional and Community Service Roles
- Committee member, Australia Fracture Group
- QUT representative, Skills Formation Strategy (SFS) Fibre Composites, QLD Government
- Steering committee member, ATN-ISTA Australia-China NanoNetwork
- Symposia-chair, Biomaterials, polymers and polymer-based composites (PS6), 19th International Microscopy Congress, Sep, 2018, Sydney, Australia
- Co-chair, Biomaterials, polymers & composites symposium, 19th International Microscopy Congress, 9-14 Sep, 2018, Sydney, Australia
- Executive co-chair, 2018 International symposium on Advanced Materials and Sustainable Technologies, 22-25 July 2018, Brisbane, Australia
- Chair, Workshop on Recent Advances in Nanomechanics - Science and Facilities, 12 Dec 2017, QUT, Brisbane
Publications
- Egoda Kapuralalage, H., Marriam, I., Zhang, Z., MacLeod, J., Bai, R., Lei, Z., Li, Y., Liu, Y., Yang, H. & Yan, C. (2022). Liquid metal incorporated graphene oxide films with enhanced through-plane thermal conductivity and flame resistance. Applied Materials Today, 29. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234569
- Chathuranga, H., Marriam, I., Zhang, Z., MacLeod, J., Liu, Y., Yang, H. & Yan, C. (2022). Multifunctional, Bioinspired, and Moisture Responsive Graphene Oxide/Tapioca Starch Nanocomposites. Advanced Materials Technologies, 7(4). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/211941
- Chathuranga, H., Marriam, I., Chen, S., Zhang, Z., MacLeod, J., Liu, Y., Yang, H. & Yan, C. (2022). Multistimulus-Responsive Graphene Oxide/Fe3O4/Starch Soft Actuators. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 14(14), 16772–16779. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/229492
- Chathuranga, H., Wasalathilake, K., Marriam, I., MacLeod, J., Zhang, Z., Bai, R., Lei, Z., Li, Y., Liu, Y., Yang, H. & Yan, C. (2021). Preparation of bioinspired graphene oxide/PMMA nanocomposite with improved mechanical properties. Composites Science and Technology, 216. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/213623
- Marriam, I., Tebyetekerwa, M., Xu, Z., Egoda Kapuralalage, H., Chen, S., Chen, H., Zheng, J., Du, A. & Yan, C. (2021). Techniques Enabling Inorganic Materials into Wearable Fiber/Yarn and Flexible Lithium-Ion Batteries. Energy Storage Materials, 43, 62–84. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/213007
- Hapuarachchi, S., Wasalathilake, K., Nerkar, J., Jaatinen, E., O'Mullane, A. & Yan, C. (2020). Mechanically robust tapioca starch composite binder with improved ionic conductivity for sustainable lithium-ion batteries. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 8(26), 9857–9865. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/203429
- Wasalathilake, K., Li, H., Xu, L. & Yan, C. (2020). Recent advances in graphene based materials as anode materials in sodium-ion batteries. Journal of Energy Chemistry, 42, 91–107. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/131300
- Worthy, A., Grosjean, A., Pfrunder, M., Xu, Y., Yan, C., Edwards, G., Clegg, J. & McMurtrie, J. (2018). Atomic resolution of structural changes in elastic crystals of copper(II) acetylacetonate. Nature Chemistry, 10(1), 65–69. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/223098
- Wasalathilake, K., Galpayage Dona, D., Ayoko, G. & Yan, C. (2018). Understanding the structure-property relationships in hydrothermally reduced graphene oxide hydrogels. Carbon, 137, 282–290. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/118554
- Limmahakhun, S., Oloyede, A., Sitthiseripratip, K., Xiao, Y. & Yan, C. (2017). 3D-printed cellular structures for bone biomimetic implants. Additive Manufacturing, 15, 93–101. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/105434
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Cheng, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Awards
- Type
- Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
- Reference year
- 2014
- Details
- Chair, composites symposium, Materials & Austcream 2014, Sydney, Australia
- Type
- Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
- Reference year
- 2008
- Details
- Chair, Frontiers in materials science and technology, 2008, Brisbane
- Type
- Keynote Speaker/Expert Panel Member/Invited Speaker for a Conference
- Reference year
- 2004
- Details
- Committee member, Australian Fracture Group (2004~2008).
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2003
- Details
- ARC Australian Research Fellowship (ARF), Australia Research Council.
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2002
- Details
- Sesqui Postdoctoral Fellowship, The University of Sydney (2002-2004).
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 1998
- Details
- ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (APD), Australia Research Council
Selected research projects
- Title
- Characterization of Mechanical Behavior of Lithiated Silicon
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP180102003
- Start year
- 2018
- Keywords
- Title
- Bio-inspired Design to Overcome Strength-toughness Trade-off of Composites
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP180101955
- Start year
- 2018
- Keywords
- Title
- Characterization of Mechanical Behaviour of TiO2 Nanotube Thin Films
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP150101717
- Start year
- 2015
- Keywords
- nanotube thin film; mechanical characterization; nanoindentation
Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.
Supervision
Completed supervisions (Doctorate)
- Characterization of Mechanical and Electrochemical Properties of Silicon Based Electrodes for Li-ion Batteries (2017)
- Development of Functionally Graded Materials for Innovation in Bone-Replacement Applications (2017)
- Characterization of Mechanical Behaviour of TiO2 Nanotube Array (2016)
- Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of Graphene Oxide-Polymer Nanocomposites (2015)
- Numerical Investigation of Deformation and Failure Mechanisms of Osteopontin-Hydroxyapatite Interfaces and Mineralized Collagen Fibril Arrays (2014)
- Numerical Investigation of Graphene and Graphene-Polymer Nanocomposites (2014)
- Experimental impact and finite element analysis of a composite, portable road safety barrier (2013)
- Characterisation of multi wall carbon nanotube-polymer composites for strain sensing applications (2012)
- Deformation Behaviours of Coarse-Grained and Nanocrystalline Mg-5wt% Al Alloys (2011)