Non-ferrous metal material preparation and processing research team

1.      Team Introduction

The "Non-ferrous metal material preparation and processing research team" of Central South University has Professor Kechao Zhou as its academic leader. It currently has 9 scientific researchers, including 6 professors, 2 associate professors, and 1 lecturer. The team is dedicated to addressing national strategic needs in the fields of powder metallurgy and non-ferrous metals. With a focus on advanced processing and manufacturing technologies for non-ferrous metals, the team is committed to integrated research and development of materials and components. These works serve major national projects such as large aircraft and carrier rockets, as well as key industrial sectors including aluminum electrolysis and environmental protection. They have led over 10 national-level research projects, including the National Key R&D Program of China and Key Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Each year, the team publishes more than 20 high-impact papers in leading journals such as Nature Communications and Acta Materialia. Graduates from the team have pursued careers at top domestic “Double First-Class” universities, central state-owned enterprises like Chinalco, and renowned companies including Huawei and BYD.

2.      Team Leader

Professor Kechao Zhou is a doctoral supervisor and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy. He formerly served as Vice President of Central South University. Professor Zhou is currently a member of the National Strategic Advisory Committee for the New Materials Industry, Vice President of the Chinese Materials Research Society, a member of the 8th Discipline Review Group for Materials Science under the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, a member of the 7th Division of Materials Science of the Ministry of Education’s Science and Technology Commission, and a member of the Teaching Steering Committee for Materials Science and Engineering under the Ministry of Education. He has previously served as an expert advisor and guideline consultant for national science and technology programs, including the “863 Program” for new materials during China’s 10th to 12th Five-Year Plans, and the key special project “Technology Upgrading and Industrialization of Key Basic Materials” under the 13th Five-Year National Key R&D Program. Professor Zhou has long been engaged in research on powder metallurgy, novel non-ferrous metallic materials, and high-throughput materials synthesis technologies. His primary research interests include high-performance titanium alloys, copper alloys, and inert (non-reactive) electrode materials for use in extreme electrochemical environments. He has led several major national research projects, including the “Inert Electrode Technology for Aluminum Electrolysis” under the 863 Program, and the “High-Throughput Materials Preparation Technology Platform” under the National Key R&D Program. His developed high-strength and high-toughness titanium alloys have been successfully applied to landing gear components of China’s domestically manufactured large aircraft. Professor Zhou has published over 150 academic papers, holds more than 50 invention patents, and authored one academic monograph. He has supervised over 50 postdoctoral fellows, PhD, and master’s students, and has been awarded three First Prizes at the provincial or ministerial level.

3.      Main research directions and team members introduction

1）Research Group on Copper Alloys and Metal Matrix Composites

Professor Xueping Gan is a doctoral supervisor and a recognized Leading Talent in Scientific and Technological Innovation in Hunan Province. He received his Bachelor's (1999) and Master's (2002) degrees in Nonferrous Metallurgy from Central South University, and earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2007. Since October 2007, he has been working at the Powder Metallurgy Institute of Central South University, where he previously served as Deputy Director and Party Committee Deputy Secretary. He is currently the Deputy Director of the Office of Scientific Research at Central South University. Professor Gan has been deeply engaged in the theoretical and technological research of high-performance copper alloys and copper-based composites. He has led over 30 major research projects, including projects under the National Key R&D Program of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), equipment pre-research programs, and major technological innovation projects of Hunan Province. He has published more than 100 academic papers, holds over 20 authorized invention patents, and successfully translated two scientific achievements into industrial applications—notably, one involving high-performance copper alloys with a commercialization value of 72.5 million RMB. Professor Gan has received several national and ministerial-level awards, including Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, First Prize of the Ministry of Education Science and Technology Progress Award and National Teaching Achievement Award. In 2021, he was honored as an Outstanding Graduate Supervisor of Hunan Province (2nd cohort). Under his guidance, students have won: 1 Gold Award and 6 Silver Awards in the national “Internet+” College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and 6 First Prizes at the provincial level. He has also been recognized as an Excellent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mentor by both the Ministry of Education and the Hunan Provincial Government.。

Dr. Chaoqiang Liu is an Associate Research and serves as a Master’s Supervisor. Dr. Liu’s research is primarily focused on non-ferrous structural metallic materials, including copper alloys, titanium alloys, magnesium alloys, and metal matrix composites. His expertise including Alloy composition design, Correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties, Solid-state phase transformations, Atomic-scale microstructural characterization and First-principles (DFT-based) computational materials science. He has led or participated in over 10 major research projects, including: National Science and Technology Major Projects, General and Youth Programs of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Major and Youth Projects of the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation, Innovation Alliance Projects of COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) and Internal projects of the State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy. Dr. Liu has published over 40 papers as first author or corresponding author in internationally renowned journals such as Acta Materialia, Scripta Materialia, and Journal of Materials Science and Technology. He also holds 5 authorized invention patents.

2）Carbon-free aluminum electrolysis and cermet composite research group

Dr. Lei Zhang is a Research Professor and serves as a Doctoral Supervisor. He is specializing in the development of rheological intelligent manufacturing technologies for powder metallurgy, as well as the fundamental research and application of spaceborne current-carrying friction materials. He has over 20 years of professional experience in metal–ceramic inert anode materials and space electrical contact materials. Dr. Zhang possesses extensive expertise in corrosion-resistant, high-conductivity design and large-scale fabrication of metal–ceramic materials. He has made significant breakthroughs in the design of high-reliability electrical contact transmission interfaces for spaceborne current-carrying friction materials and in the engineering fabrication of their micro/nano composite structures. His research has directly supported the development of high-stability electrical contact materials for the solar array drive mechanisms and space pointing mechanisms used in multiple spacecraft models. To date, Dr. Zhang has led or participated in more than 60 scientific research projects, including: the “863” High-Tech Program, the “973” National Basic Research Program, General Armament Department’s common technologies, Civil aerospace preliminary research and Cross-institutional projects from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). He serves as a peer reviewer for numerous leading journals such as: Carbon, Wear, Additive Manufacturing, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Applied Surface Science and Tribology International. Dr. Zhang has published over 100 academic papers and holds more than 30 authorized national invention patents.

Dr. Huiwen Xiong is an Associate Professor, a doctoral supervisor, and an Outstanding Young Talent under the “Sublimation Scholar Program”. Dr. Xiong’s research focuses on: Rheological forming and manufacturing of novel powder metallurgy products, Composition design, fabrication, and performance evaluation of metal–ceramic materials and Development of nickel ferrite–based cermet inert anodes. He has served as the principal investigator for multiple research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, and several major industry-funded projects. In recent years, Dr. Xiong has published over 40 SCI-indexed papers in prestigious journals including: Additive Manufacturing, Journal of the American Ceramic Society and Journal of Materials Chemistry A. He has filed 24 Chinese invention patents, 2 PCT (U.S.) patents, and has been granted more than 10 invention patents.

Dr. Xiao Kang is a Lecturer and serves as a Master Supervisor. He is a member of both the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society and the Chinese Materials Research Society. Dr. Kang has long been engaged in the research of powder metallurgy friction materials, with particular expertise in: Material design of current-carrying friction materials, Stable manufacturing techniques, Microstructure optimization, Electrical contact performance evaluation, Surface chemical behavior under frictional conditions. He has independently led 6 research projects, including: Projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Open research grants from State Key Laboratories and Industry-academia collaborative projects. He has also contributed to 9 major national and provincial projects, such as: A Major Program of the NSFC, General Programs of the NSFC, The Key Scientific and Technological Projects of the Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology. Over the past five years, Dr. Kang has published more than 20 SCI-indexed papers as first author or corresponding author in leading international journals, including: Additive Manufacturing, Applied Surface Science, Tribology International, Friction and Wear. He holds 5 authorized invention patents。

3) Advanced titanium alloy material research group

Dr. Xiaoyong Zhang is a Research Professor and serves as a doctoral supervisor. He holds several academic and professional roles, including: Board Member of the Youth Committee of the Chinese Materials Research Society, Executive Member of the Bone Repair Materials and Devices Committee of the Hunan Society for Biomaterials, Committee Member of the Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Advanced Titanium Processing. Dr. Zhang’s research focuses primarily on: Titanium alloy design and processing, High-precision 3D printing of complex components and High-performance powder metallurgy products. He has led or participated in over 10 major research projects. His work has been recognized with prestigious awards, including: First Prize of Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award (2019) and First Prize of the Science and Technology Progress Award of China Nonferrous Metals Industry (2020).

4）Powder Materials and Additive Manufacturing Research Group

Dr. ?Chao Chen is a Research Professor, a Doctoral Supervisor and a recipient of the Hunan Provincial Outstanding Young Investigator (Excellent Youth Fund). He currently serves as: Member of the Medical Metal Materials Subcommittee of the Chinese Society for Biomaterials (CSBM), Deputy Director of the Hunan Engineering Research Center for Metallic and Ceramic Biomedical Implants. His research focuses on: Metal additive manufacturing (3D printing) and Structural design and fabrication of powder metallurgy materials. Dr. Chen has led or participated in multiple national and provincial-level research programs, including: Three subprojects under the National Key R&D Program of China, Two National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) projects and Five provincial/ministerial-level projects. Dr. Chen has published over 80 SCI-indexed papers in journals such as Advanced Materials and Additive Manufacturing, with more than 3,000 citations. He has authored or co-authored two monographs/textbooks, including X-ray Diffraction Technology, and translated one professional book. His contributions in additive manufacturing of aluminum alloys and refractory alloy powder preparation/forming have led to over 20 authorized national invention patents and two provincial/ministerial-level science and technology awards. He guided graduate students to win the Silver Medal in the China International "Internet+" College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition.

Web links：http://faculty.csu.edu.cn/chenchao1/zh_CN/index.htm ?

5) Advanced Lightweight Materials Research Group

Professor Miao Song is a Doctoral Supervisor and a National Youth Talent. Dr. Song’s research is primarily focused on mechanism-driven design and fabrication of lightweight materials. He has published over 110 peer-reviewed papers in leading international journals, including: Science (2 articles), Nature, Science/Nature sub-journals (9 articles) and Acta Materialia (8 articles). His work has been cited more than 3,000 times, and he holds 7 patent applications. He serves as the Youth Editorial Board Member for journals such as Journal of Materials Science & Technology, Advanced Powder Materials, and Materials Research Letters. He serves as the Reviewer for numerous international journals in materials science and engineering. He has led or participated in 5 major national and provincial-level research projects, including: National-Level Young Talent Program, Key and General Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), National Key R&D Program, Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation. In addition to research, Dr. Song has published three education reform papers and mentored students who won: Silver and Bronze Medals in the China International College Students’ “Internet+” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. He has received several honors, including: Outstanding Class Advisor of Central South University, Excellent Innovation & Entrepreneurship Mentor of Hunan Province, Xiaomi Youth Scholar and Emerging Scientific Talent Awardee.

Web links：https://faculty.csu.edu.cn/songmiao/zh_CN/index.htm

4.      Representative Projects

5.      Representative Publications

[1]     F. Wang^#, M. Song^#, M. Elkot, N. Yao, B. Sun, M. Song^?, Z. Wang^?, D. Raabe^?, Shearing brittle intermetallics enhances cryogenic strength and ductility of steels, Science 384(6699) (2024) 1017-1022.

[2]     M. Song^?, D. Zhang, D. Leng, J. Lee, Z. Yang, J. Chen, D. Li, L Wang, G. Zhou^?, R. Yang, K. Zhou, In situ atomic observations of aggregation growth and evolution of penta-twinned gold nanocrystals, Nature Communications, 15(1) (2024) 9217.

[3]     M. Song^#, G. Zhou^#, N. Lu^#, J. Lee, E. Nakouzi, H. Wang, and D. Li^?, Oriented attachment induces fivefold twins by forming and decomposing high-energy grain boundaries, Science 367(6473) (2020) 40-45.

[4]     Chaoqiang Liu, Yuan Yue*, Shengnan Ma, Xueping Gan, Houwen Chen*, Jian-Feng Nie*, Interfacial dislocation induced precipitation in a Mg?Gd?Zn?Zr alloy, Acta Materialia 284 (2025) 120583.

[5]     Chaoqiang Liu, Xin Hu, Lin Qi, Houwen Chen, Zhiqiao Li, Xiaoyong Zhang, Hongge Yan, Kechao Zhou, Min Song*, Yunzhi Wang, Jian-Feng Nie*, Unusual precipitation induced by solute segregation in coherent twin boundary in titanium alloys, Acta Materialia 242 (2023) 118466.

[6]     Zhonghuai Yi, Ting Shen, Huiwen Xiong*, Xiao Kang**, Lei Zhang, Kechao Zhou, Strong and densified 3D metal-ceramic composite with strengthened layer structure by material extrusion additive manufacturing. Additive Manufacturing 84 (2024) 104136.

[7]     Mengxiong Chen, Huiwen Xiong, Yang Fu, Heng Zou, Xiao Kang, Lei Zhang, Kechao Zhou, Fabrication of large cross-section Ti–6Al–4V alloy using EBS-modified POM-based feedstok, Powder technology 434 (2024) 119364.

[8]     Yong He, Ke-chao Zhou, Yan Zhang, Hui-wen Xiong and Lei Zhang*. Recent progress of inert anodes for carbon-free aluminium electrolysis: a review and outlook. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2021, 9: 9,25272.

[9]     Geng Z, Chen C*, Song M*, Luo J, Chen J, Li R, Zhou K. High strength Al0.7CoCrFeNi2.4 hypereutectic high entropy alloy fabricated by laser powder bed fusion via triple-nanoprecipitation. Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2024, 187:141-155.

[10] Geng Z, Chen C*, Li R, Luo J, Zhou K. Composition inhomogeneity reduces cracking susceptibility in additively manufactured AlCoCrFeNi2.1 eutectic high-entropy alloy produced by laser powder bed fusion. Additive Manufacturing, 2022, 56:102941.

[11] Deng J, Chen C*, Liu X, Li Y, Zhou K, Guo S. A high-strength heat-resistant Al-5.7Ni eutectic alloy with spherical Al3Ni nano-particles by selective laser melting. Scr. Mater., 2021,203:114034.

[12] Lei P, Qian H, Zhang T, Lei T, Hu Y*, Chen C*, Zhou K. Porous tantalum structure integrated on Ti6Al4V base by Laser Powder Bed Fusion for enhanced bony-ingrowth implants: In vitro and in vivo validation. Bioact. Mater., 2022, 7:3-13.

[13] Pan P, Chen C*, Wang G, Ning K, Shu Z, Zhang J, Zhang T, Li D, Gao L, Geng Z, Song L, Zou W, Zhang Y, Liu J, Zhou K. The dependence of Zener-Hollomon parameter on softening behavior and dynamic recrystallization mechanism of a biodegradable Zn-Cu-Mg alloy. International Journal of Plasticity, 2024, 182:104120.

6.      Employment whereabouts