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Staff Profile

Dr Chuan Cheng

Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering

Background

Dr. Chuan Cheng is a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the School of Engineering, Newcastle University. He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). He has expertise in advanced manufacturing technologies for lithium-ion batteries, battery electrode design and optimization, high-capacity NMC cathode materials, and electrochemical mechanics of electrochemical systems.

Research

My research focuses on electrochemical energy storage materials and devices, including lithium-ion batteries and electrochemical actuators, in specific, (i) design and manufacture electrode structures in multi-scales to facilitate ion transportation and promote redox reaction kinetics that are essential for the fast charging of batteries; (ii) operando measure charge-induced reversible strain in porous electrodes which could lead to macroscopic volume changes and degradation of electrochemical systems; (iii) experiments with electrochemical modelling & simulation to understand the mechanics and optimize the device performance; (iv) sustainable and scalable manufacturing technologies, including roll-to-roll electrode coating and continuous synthesis of energy storage materials.


Current Funding:

PI, EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account, Solvent-free manufacturing of dry electrodes for lithium-ion batteries.

PI, Royal Society Flexi-Grant, Solid-state electrochemical actuators as artificial muscles.

PI, British Academy, Manufacturing of the next generation all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries.


Previous Funding:

PI, Capital Equipment Fund, WMG, University of Warwick, Battery Testing Equipment and Modelling Software.

PI, Humboldt Research Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Electrochemical Actuation of Low-Cost and Highly-Ordered Nanoporous Materials.


Supervisor of PhD Students:

  • Mr. Ruifeng Zhou
  • Mr. Batukan Tarhan


I am also one of the supervisors of the Newcastle Formula Student team: Meet the Team | Newcastle Racing (ncl.ac.uk), where stage 3 and stage 4 project students build prototype, battery-powered, single-seat racing cars.


PhD Openings:

PhD in Mechanical and Systems Engineering: Manufacturing of the Next Generation All-Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com

A PhD Studentship on a project: Manufacturing of the Next Generation All-Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, September 2024 Entry. 100% fees covered for Home Student. The studentship covers 3 years of tuition fees for a home student and 3.5 years of stipend. A minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £19,237 (2024/25 UKRI rate). Sponsor: Tony Trapp PhD Studentship.


I am also looking for external-funded PhD students working in the following areas:

  • Battery Electrode Manufacturing;
  • State-of-Health (SOH) and State-of-Charge (SOC) Estimation of Lithium-ion Batteries;
  • Electrochemical Actuators;


PhD Application Link: Mechanical and Systems Engineering MPhil, PhD | Postgraduate | Newcastle University (ncl.ac.uk).

Interested candidates please contact via email: Chuan.Cheng@newcastle.ac.uk


Postdoc Openings:

A project sponsor/host for EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowships | Faculty of Science, Agriculture & Engineering | Newcastle University (ncl.ac.uk). For EPSRC-funded PhD students who would like to receive 24 months of additional support, after completing their PhD.

A project sponsor/host for other postdoc fellowships, such as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships.

Interested candidates please contact via email: Chuan.Cheng@newcastle.ac.uk


Call for Papers:

Guest Editor: Materials | Special Issue: Powering the Future: Cutting-Edge Advancements in Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing, submission deadline: 20 August 2024.

Teaching

ENG1002: Sustainable Design, Creativity, and Professionalism

MEC3098: Mechanical Engineering Project

MEC8099: Mechanical Engineering Team Project

MEC8095: MSc Project (Mechanical and Systems Engineering)


Former Teaching at the University of Warwick:

Battery Electrochemistry, Design and Manufacturing (Level 7) (Module Lead)

Energy Storage Systems (Level-6)

WMG Battery School for Faraday Institution & for Industry (CPD Short-Course Lead)

MSc in Sustainable Automotive Electrification (Full-Time, Level 7) (Course Lead)







Publications