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
Discipline
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
Selected publications
- 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.
- 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, pp. 62-84.
- 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).
- 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), pp. 9857-9865.
- 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, pp. 91-107.
- Liu J, Bai R, Lei Z, Xu C, Ye A, Martens W, Yarlagadda P, Yan C, (2019) Experimental and numerical investigation of the toughening mechanisms in bioinspired composites prepared by freeze casting, Composites Science and Technology, 182, pp. 1-7.
- 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, pp. 65-69.
- Wasalathilake K, Ayoko G, Yan C, (2018) Effects of heteroatom doping on the performance of graphene in sodium-ion batteries: A density functional theory investigation, Carbon, 140, pp. 276-285.
- Limmahakhun S, Oloyede A, Sitthiseripratip K, Xiao Y, Yan C, (2017) 3D-printed cellular structures for bone biomimetic implants, Additive Manufacturing, 15, pp. 93-101.
- Oloyede A, Sitthiseripratip K, Xiao Y, Yan C, Limmahakhun S, (2017) Stiffness and strength tailoring of cobalt chromium graded cellular structures for stress-shielding reduction, Materials and Design, 114, pp. 633-641.
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
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
Supervision
Current supervisions
- Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Si-based and Li-metal Anodes in Rechargeable Batteries
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Aijun Du
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)