Academic Profile : Faculty
_1.jpg "A preview Chen Zhong (400 x 514)_1.jpg picture")
Prof Chen Zhong
Professor, School of Materials Science & Engineering
Email
External Links
Controlled Keywords
User Keywords (optional)
Dr. Chen is a Professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He obtained his PhD in 1997 from the University of Reading, under sponsorship of the Overseas Research Scholarship (ORS) by the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals (CVCP) and a European Union research grant. In April 1997, he joined the newly founded Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), a national research institute funded by the Singapore government. After spending three fruitful years in IMRE, the passion for education brought him to NTU as an Assistant Professor in March 2000. He has been promoted to Associate Professor and Professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering since then. So far, Prof. Chen has graduated 36 PhD students and 6 MEng students. He has also supervised over 200 undergraduate research projects (FYP, URECA, etc.).
Prof. Chen’s research interest includes 1) Surface engineering of materials and nanostructures; 2) Mechanical & long-term behaviors of materials. In the study of thin film mechanical behavior, he was the first to discover a significant substrate compliance effect on the energy release rate of thin film delamination. He also pioneered a novel buckling-based technique to measure thin film fracture & delamination toughness. The work in this area provides critical insights and design guidance for the development of flexible, printable electronic devices. His team has also made substantial progress in the development of mechanically durable coatings for self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-fogging, and anti-fingerprint applications. Several patents / technological disclosures are made in this area.
Prof. Chen has been active in applied research in recent years with a total industrial project funding exceeding 10M SGD. He has served the academic community as an editor / editorial board member for several journals and book series. He has also served as a reviewer for more than 70 journals and several research funding agencies including the European Research Council (ERC).
Prof. Chen’s research interest includes 1) Surface engineering of materials and nanostructures; 2) Mechanical & long-term behaviors of materials. In the study of thin film mechanical behavior, he was the first to discover a significant substrate compliance effect on the energy release rate of thin film delamination. He also pioneered a novel buckling-based technique to measure thin film fracture & delamination toughness. The work in this area provides critical insights and design guidance for the development of flexible, printable electronic devices. His team has also made substantial progress in the development of mechanically durable coatings for self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-fogging, and anti-fingerprint applications. Several patents / technological disclosures are made in this area.
Prof. Chen has been active in applied research in recent years with a total industrial project funding exceeding 10M SGD. He has served the academic community as an editor / editorial board member for several journals and book series. He has also served as a reviewer for more than 70 journals and several research funding agencies including the European Research Council (ERC).
Surface Engineering of Materials: Thin films & engineered nanostructures for clean energy and environmental applications; Microelectronic thin films; Protective and functional surface coatings.
Mechanical & Long-term Behaviors of Materials: Deformation, fracture, fatigue, and creep of bulk monolithic & composite materials, thin films and multi-layers; Experimental and computational mechanics of materials; Materials degradation, reliability, and failure analysis.
Mechanical & Long-term Behaviors of Materials: Deformation, fracture, fatigue, and creep of bulk monolithic & composite materials, thin films and multi-layers; Experimental and computational mechanics of materials; Materials degradation, reliability, and failure analysis.
- Hybrid surfaces towards atmospheric dew water harvesting
- Ceramic-fibre metal-matrix composites: interface and manufacturing
- Epoxy Mold Compounds for High Voltage Applications
- Topic 5: Large-scale applications of carbon in concrete (WP2) (ExxonMobil)
US 2017/0162947 A1: Microwave Absorbing Composite For Turbine Blade Applications (2019)
Abstract: The invention provides a composite laminate comprising an outer, an intermediate and an inner section comprising, respectively, first layers of composite material and one or more functional layers having a printed circuit for absorbing the electromagnetic radiation incident on the composite laminate; second layers of composite material; a conducting layer contiguous to the intermediate section and third layers of composite material. The values of the resistivity of the functional layer and the thickness of the intermediate section are comprised in predefined ranges for the attenuation of the reflection of electromagnetic radiation of the composite laminate in the S or X bands up to a peak of −20 dB. The invention also refers to manufacturing methods of the composite laminate (11) and to wind turbine blades including the composite laminate.
US 2012/0199468 A1: Titanate/Titania Composite Nanoparticle (2018)
Abstract: The present invention relates to a photocatalytically active nanoparticulate material. A nanoparticle of the invention is a composite nanoparticle having two crystalline phases: hydrogen titanate and titania, which are uniformly mixed in the nanoparticle. The invention also relates to forming a nanoparticulate composite material by heating a basic titania sol under solvothermal conditions.
US 2013/0092545 A1: Method Of Manufacturing Layered Metal Oxide Particles And Layered Metal Oxide Particles Formed Thereof (2017)
Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of manufacturing layered metal oxide particles, the method comprising: placing a metal electrode in an electrolyte; and applying an electrical voltage to the electrode, wherein the metal electrode forms the anode, to form a metal oxide layer on the electrode surface, wherein the electrical voltage applied is higher than the breakdown voltage of the metal oxide, thereby breaking down the metal oxide layer formed on the electrode surface into metal oxide particles that react with the electrolyte to form the layered metal oxide particles. The present invention also refers to a layered metal oxide particle obtained from the method, and a method of manufacturing a crystalline metal oxide nanosheet or a crystalline metal oxide nanoribbon.
US-2009-0239338-A1: Method Of Forming An Interconnect On A Semiconductor Substrate (2014)
Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming a wire bond-free conductive interconnect area on a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor substrate with an electrically conductive protrusion, defining a bond pad, is provided as well as a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The plurality of carbon nanotubes is immobilized on the bond pad by allowing at least one random portion along the length of the carbon nanotubes to attach to the surface of the bond pad. Thus an aggregate of loops of carbon nanotubes is formed on the surface of the bond pad. Thereby a conductive interconnect area is formed on the electrically conductive protrusion without heat treatment.
US 2019/0233675A1: Polymeric Composition With Anti-Icing And Self-Cleaning Properties (2020)
Abstract: Polymeric compositions useful in preventing the frost or ice deposition in the surface of wind turbine generator blades present in a cold climates or high altitude are provided. In addition to the anti-icing capacity, the polymeric composition prevents the deposition of dirt, i.e. it has self-cleaning properties.
Abstract: The invention provides a composite laminate comprising an outer, an intermediate and an inner section comprising, respectively, first layers of composite material and one or more functional layers having a printed circuit for absorbing the electromagnetic radiation incident on the composite laminate; second layers of composite material; a conducting layer contiguous to the intermediate section and third layers of composite material. The values of the resistivity of the functional layer and the thickness of the intermediate section are comprised in predefined ranges for the attenuation of the reflection of electromagnetic radiation of the composite laminate in the S or X bands up to a peak of −20 dB. The invention also refers to manufacturing methods of the composite laminate (11) and to wind turbine blades including the composite laminate.
US 2012/0199468 A1: Titanate/Titania Composite Nanoparticle (2018)
Abstract: The present invention relates to a photocatalytically active nanoparticulate material. A nanoparticle of the invention is a composite nanoparticle having two crystalline phases: hydrogen titanate and titania, which are uniformly mixed in the nanoparticle. The invention also relates to forming a nanoparticulate composite material by heating a basic titania sol under solvothermal conditions.
US 2013/0092545 A1: Method Of Manufacturing Layered Metal Oxide Particles And Layered Metal Oxide Particles Formed Thereof (2017)
Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of manufacturing layered metal oxide particles, the method comprising: placing a metal electrode in an electrolyte; and applying an electrical voltage to the electrode, wherein the metal electrode forms the anode, to form a metal oxide layer on the electrode surface, wherein the electrical voltage applied is higher than the breakdown voltage of the metal oxide, thereby breaking down the metal oxide layer formed on the electrode surface into metal oxide particles that react with the electrolyte to form the layered metal oxide particles. The present invention also refers to a layered metal oxide particle obtained from the method, and a method of manufacturing a crystalline metal oxide nanosheet or a crystalline metal oxide nanoribbon.
US-2009-0239338-A1: Method Of Forming An Interconnect On A Semiconductor Substrate (2014)
Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming a wire bond-free conductive interconnect area on a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor substrate with an electrically conductive protrusion, defining a bond pad, is provided as well as a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The plurality of carbon nanotubes is immobilized on the bond pad by allowing at least one random portion along the length of the carbon nanotubes to attach to the surface of the bond pad. Thus an aggregate of loops of carbon nanotubes is formed on the surface of the bond pad. Thereby a conductive interconnect area is formed on the electrically conductive protrusion without heat treatment.
US 2019/0233675A1: Polymeric Composition With Anti-Icing And Self-Cleaning Properties (2020)
Abstract: Polymeric compositions useful in preventing the frost or ice deposition in the surface of wind turbine generator blades present in a cold climates or high altitude are provided. In addition to the anti-icing capacity, the polymeric composition prevents the deposition of dirt, i.e. it has self-cleaning properties.
Awards
• Certificate of Honour by NTU for Inspirational Mentorship (Koh Boon Hwee scholar scheme), 2010
Fellowships & Other Recognition
• Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics
• Top 2% Scientists in the World by Stanford University (career-long & single-year)
• Top 2% Scientists in the World by Stanford University (career-long & single-year)
Courses Taught
UG course:
First year - Mathematics I; Mechanics of Solids
Second year - Mathematics II; Mechanics of Materials; Materials Engineering Practices & Creativity; Yr2 Experiment; Materials Structure and Mechanical Behaviour; Materials Structure and Defects
Third year - Materials Design / Industrial Design (supervision); Professional Internship (supervision)
Forth year - Fracture Mechanics and Failure Analysis; Advanced Materials Science II; Failure Analysis; Final Year Project (supervision)
PG course:
Failure Analysis; Graduate Lab Techniques
First year - Mathematics I; Mechanics of Solids
Second year - Mathematics II; Mechanics of Materials; Materials Engineering Practices & Creativity; Yr2 Experiment; Materials Structure and Mechanical Behaviour; Materials Structure and Defects
Third year - Materials Design / Industrial Design (supervision); Professional Internship (supervision)
Forth year - Fracture Mechanics and Failure Analysis; Advanced Materials Science II; Failure Analysis; Final Year Project (supervision)
PG course:
Failure Analysis; Graduate Lab Techniques
Supervision of PhD Students
Graduated 36 PhD & 6 MEng students
Currently supervising/co-supervising 6 PhD students
Currently supervising/co-supervising 6 PhD students