Dr Nancy Zhang
BEng, MEng, PhD
Expertise
Dr. Hongnan Zhang works on thermally conductive materials, composite design, thermal interface materials and advanced materials for hydrogen fuel cells thermal management.
Current positions
Research Associate
School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering
Contact
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Biography
Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on thermally functional materials and advanced heat transport strategies for clean energy and decarbonised propulsion systems. Her work involves the design and fabrication of ceramic–polymer and metal–composite materials with tailored thermal conductivity, as well as interface-engineered thermal structures for power electronics and fuel cells. She applies advanced characterization techniques, including SEM, TEM, LFA, and TPS, to understand the structure–property relationships governing heat transfer in complex systems.
As part of the Advanced Fuel Cell for Aviation Decarbonisation (AFCAD) project, Dr. Zhang also leads the development and thermal optimization of metal–composite bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Her contributions include microstructural analysis of gas diffusion electrodes and catalyst layers to support thermal and electrochemical performance in aviation fuel cell stacks.
Dr. Zhang is committed to advancing sustainable energy technologies through materials innovation. She collaborates closely across disciplines and actively contributes to research in thermal management for next-generation fuel cells, hydrogen systems, and electrified propulsion platforms.
Research interests
Dr. Hongnan Zhang’s research focuses on thermal functional materials and heat transport strategies for clean energy and decarbonised propulsion systems.
Her work encompasses the development of ceramic–polymer and metal–composite materials with engineered thermal conductivity, as well as interface-tailored thermal structures for power electronics and fuel cells. She combines advanced material processing with techniques such as SEM, TEM, and laser-based thermal characterization to improve heat dissipation in compact energy devices.
Dr. Zhang also investigates thermally efficient bipolar plate materials for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, with a focus on aviation applications. Her work within the AFCAD project includes the structural and thermal optimization of metal–composite plates, as well as microstructural analysis of gas diffusion electrodes and catalyst layers to support performance integration in hydrogen fuel cell systems.