Zhenxiang Cheng

Professor Zhenxiang Cheng is a Professor at the Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials within the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials at the University of Wollongong, Australia, where he has been employed since 2017. His research focuses on advanced functional materials with applications in energy storage, conversion, and harvesting.

Professor Cheng received his educational foundation in China, with a Bachelor's degree in Physics (1991-1995), a Master's degree in Condensed Matter Physics (1995-1998), and a PhD in Materials Science (1998-2001), all from Shandong University. He furthered his research career as a Research Fellow of the Japanese Society for Promotion of Science at the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan (2003-2005) before joining the University of Wollongong in 2005, where he progressed from Research Fellow to his current position as Professor.

Professor Cheng's research interests center around ferroic materials, spanning ferroelectric, magnetic, and multiferroic materials, along with their underlying physics. His work encompasses materials design through experimental methodologies and first-principle simulations, fabrication techniques for nano materials, thin films, bulks, and crystals, with applications in energy storage, harvesting, and conversion, particularly in electrocatalytic water splitting. His research demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the relationship between material structure and functional properties.

His extensive publication record reveals a strong focus on topological materials, ferroelectric systems, energy storage technologies, and catalytic applications. The trend in his research shows increasing emphasis on the intersection of topology and functional properties in materials, with significant contributions to understanding and engineering materials for energy applications. His work bridges fundamental materials science with practical applications in sustainable energy technologies.

• Future Fellow of the Australia Research Council (2009-2013)
• Research Fellow of the Japanese Society for Promotion of Science (2003-2005)

Professor Cheng actively supervises numerous PhD and Master's students across a wide range of research topics related to functional materials. His research is supported by multiple funding sources including Discovery Projects from the Australian Research Council and various infrastructure grants, enabling cutting-edge research in materials characterization and development. His collaborative approach is evident in his extensive co-authorship network spanning multiple institutions.

As a leading researcher in the Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Professor Cheng contributes to a vibrant research environment focused on developing next-generation functional materials for energy and electronic applications, positioning his work at the forefront of materials innovation for sustainable technologies.