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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), a member of IET, IOM3, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). He has expertise in advanced manufacturing technologies for Li-ion batteries and Li-sulfur all-solid-state batteries, battery electrode design and optimization, high-capacity cathode materials, and electrochemical mechanics of electrochemical systems.

Research

My research focuses on manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries and Li-sulfur all-solid-state batteries, in specific,

(i) design and optimise composite electrode structures to facilitate ion transport and promote redox reaction kinetics that are essential for the fast charging of batteries;

(ii) manufacture of all-solid-state batteries with sulfide solid-state electrolytes to operate under low stack pressures;

(iii) mitigate charge-induced strain/stress in composite electrodes that could lead to electro-chemo-mechanical degradations;

(iv) sustainable and scalable manufacturing technologies, including roll-to-roll electrode dry coating and continuous synthesis of energy storage materials.


Current Funding:

PI, Industrial fund, Manufacturing of lithium sulfur all-solid-state batteries.

PI, EPSRC Place-Based IAA: Northern Net Zero Accelerator, Manufacturing of lithium sulfur all-solid-state batteries.

CoI, Innovate UK, Advancing sustainable in electric vehicle battery recycling.

Lead supervisor, Tony Trapp PhD Studentship.

Lead supervisor, EPSRC Renewable Energy Northeast Universities Plus (ReNU+) CDT PhD Studentship.


Previous Funding:

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

PI, HEIF, Solvent-free manufacturing of battery electrodes.

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

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

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.


I am 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 Studentship in Energy Materials (2025 Entry):100% fees covered for four years and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £19,237 (2024/25 UKRI rate). An additional allowance will be provided to contribute towards consumables, equipment, and travel related to the project.

PhD Studentship: Manufacturing of Lithium-Sulfur All-Solid-State Batteries with Graphene-Reinforced Ionic-Electronic Composites at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com

Application deadline: 10 Feb 2025.

Application through University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal: Sign in · Newcastle University Admissions Portal

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


Self-funded PhD (2025 Entry):

PhD in Mechanical and Systems Engineering, PhD Project: Manufacturing of Lithium-ion Battery Electrodes at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com For the 2025 Entry.


I welcome self-funded/external-funded PhD applicants in the following research areas:

  • Battery Electrode Manufacturing
  • Li-S All-Solid-State Batteries
  • Electrochemical Actuation


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

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


Postdoc Openings:

Host for Postdoc Fellowships

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

Teaching

ENG2022: Materials Science II

ENG1008: Introduction to Programming Languages (C, Matlab and Python)

MEC3098: Mechanical Engineering 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