Ziqian Zhao, Ph.D.

FRISIARC Research Fellow, Distinguished Professor, Doctoral Supervisor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University

His research focuses on the fundamental study of interfacial intermolecular interactions at metal–soft matter interfaces and instrument design of nanomechanical technique for interaction force measurement. Relying on advanced nanomechanical platforms such as the Surface Forces Apparatus (SFA) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), he conducts direct experimental characterization and quantitative analysis of interfacial intermolecular interaction mechanisms in engineering surface phenomena at the molecular scale. His research outcomes have been applied in areas including surface coatings, oil/mineral separation, and high-performance copper alloys, and have further expanded into biomedical devices and electronic information materials. He has published more than 50 papers in leading journals in the fields of metallic and coating materials, including Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, ACS Nano, and Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, and holds 5 authorized patents.

Academic Profiles

Google Scholar:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=mY4R2uwAAAAJ&hl=en

ResearchGate:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ziqian-Zhao-7?ev=hdr_xprf

Research Interests

1. Measurement of Interfacial Interaction Forces: Direct measurement of intermolecular interaction forces and investigation of interfacial physical mechanisms in processes such as wastewater systems, surface contamination and corrosion, and self-assembly.

2. Protective Coatings and Functional Surfaces for Copper/Magnesium Alloys: Development of novel antifouling and corrosion-resistant coatings, corrosion inhibitors, antioxidants, and functionalized surfaces for copper and magnesium alloys.

3. Surface Modification of Medical Devices and Sensing Materials: Surface engineering of biomedical metallic materials, coatings for implantable magnesium alloys, surface modification of implantable medical devices, and antifouling/functional coatings for electrode surfaces.

4. High-Performance Copper Alloys: Research on dispersion-strengthened copper alloys, high-strength and high-conductivity copper alloys, corrosion-resistant copper alloys, and copper-based powder metallurgy materials.

Opening

The research group is currently recruiting Ph.D. and M.Sc. students for enrollment in 2026, and is also continuously seeking outstanding postdoctoral researchers and research assistants.

Applicants with backgrounds in materials science, chemistry, colloid and interface physics/chemistry, corrosion and protection, electrochemical sensing, computer science, biomedical engineering, or related fields are warmly welcome to join the group. Together, we aim to advance interface science research, driven by scientific curiosity and mutual growth.