USQ researcher earns grant to develop personal heat management materials

Work on wearable heat-regulating materials led by a University of Southern Queensland engineering researcher received an ARC Linkage Projects grant of $428,541 on Thursday.

Energy Materials Professor Zhi-Gang Chen is developing wearable thermoelectric devices and materials, a field of research he says has “substantial implications” for health, comfort and energy usage.

“Personal heat management includes personal cooling, heating, heat insulation, and temperature adjustment functions, which are more flexible and extensive than traditional air/liquid cooling suits for the human body,” Chen said in a statement.

“We’re taking a novel assembly approach to engineer thermoelectric materials with unique structures and chemistry.

“We’re working towards cost-effective, eco-friendly, and wearable thermoelectrics that can be integrated with wool or fabrics to form smart textiles.”

Linkage Projects connect researchers with business and community organisations, in projects which “initiate or develop long term strategic research alliances to apply advanced knowledge to problems, acquire new knowledge and as a basis for securing commercial and other benefits.”

Chen’s project is one of 67 new research projects totalling $31.7 million in grant funding announced during the round.

Picture: supplied

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