Professor Zhenyu Zhang PhD

School of Chemical Engineering
Professor of Soft Matter Engineering

Contact details

Telephone: +44 (0) 121 415 8695
Email: z.j.zhang@bham.ac.uk
Twitter: @ZhenyuJZhang

Address: School of Chemical Engineering
The University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Professor Zhang has a broad interest in understanding and modulating soft matter at surfaces and interfaces, which underpins the development of sustainable formulated products, new hygiene technologies, innovate healthcare technologies, intervention to improve air quality, and new routes for energy. He leads several national and international research consortia, supported by EPSRC and Horizon Europe, to understand antimicrobial effects so as to develop sustainable and effective surface hygiene technologies. He received two Industrial Fellowships, funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering, to work with Procter & Gamble (2020-2023) and DuPont Teijin Film (2018), respectively. His expertise in surface forces, e.g. adhesion, friction, contact mechanics, has been applied extensively in a wide range of soft matter applications such as biotribology.

Zhenyu Zhang is part of the Healthcare Technologies Institute (HTI), an interdisciplinary network of over 70 academics working together to advance new technologies and treatments that encourage better tissue healing and rehabilitation tools. The HTI brings together leading experts from a variety of disciplines across the University of Birmingham, including chemical engineering, biomedical science, computer science, applied mathematics, chemistry and physics. Researchers across campus are working collaboratively to speed up the translation of new discoveries into health applications.

Qualifications

PhD in Polymer Physics, University of Sheffield, 2008
MSc (Distinction) in Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Birmingham and Aston University, 2004

Teaching

• Foundation Year Chair
• Plant design

Research

Having established a comprehensive suite of research capability in studying soft matter and interfaces, my current research interests are focused on addressing the fundamental grand challenges underpin Formulated Products sector and advancing Healthcare Technologies. Three of my current principal areas of activities are listed below.

Soft matter at surfaces and interfaces for Formulated Products

My research has focused on controlling soft matter, including polymer, surfactants, colloids, at surfaces and interfaces, which offers a powerful toolset for the industry to formulate products with improved performance, less environmental impact, enhanced sustainability.

Biomechanics and biomaterials for Healthcare Technologies

With the advanced characterisation techniques established in my group, I have been investigating surface characteristics of microbes and biomaterials. These studies advance the design and manufacturing of disruptive technologies to inhibit the surface transmission of microbes (virus, bacteria, and fungi), generate detailed understanding of cell envelope of bacteria so that effective antimicrobial strategies could be formed.

Multiscale tribology

Tribology has been a core element of my research for the past 15 years, and I have established an internationally recognised reputation in the tribology of soft materials. My research capabilities have evolved from nanoscopic tribological measurement to multiscale ones, which builds a unique strength in understanding macroscopic phenomena such as tactile perception, osteoarthritis.

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Dalsasso, RR, Cesca, K, Valencia, GA, Monteiro, AR, Zhang, ZJ & Fryer, PJ 2025, 'Active films produced using ginger oleoresin nanoemulsion: Characterization and application on mozzarella cheese', Food Hydrocolloids, vol. 167, 111394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2025.111394

Li, N, Bassett, DC & Zhang, ZJ 2025, 'Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC)-composite formulations for 3D bioprinting with excellent printability, mechanical strength, and biological functionality', Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 524, 169037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.169037

Li, N, Qi, S, Buccoli, L, del Pozo Lorenzale, P, De La Cruz, RG, Harris, A & Zhang, ZJ 2025, 'Multiscale mechanical properties and enhancement mechanism of cellulose-composited hydrogels', Carbohydrate Polymers, vol. 357, 123421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.123421

Ren, K, Perello, D, Buccoli, L, Guillen de la Cruz, R, Wijanarko, W, Gomes, A, Williams, R, Espallargas, N, Massey-Brooker, A, Fryer, PJ & Zhang, ZJ 2025, 'The effects of TiO₂ particles on the physico-chemical properties of polyester coatings', Results in Surfaces and Interfaces, vol. 21, 100683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsurfi.2025.100683

Hefft, DI, Povey, MJ & Zhang, ZJ 2025, 'Transient Energy Released by a Tribological Process', Tribology International, vol. 212, 110928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2025.110928

Rosik, N, Preece, JA, Fryer, PJ, Mcrobbie, I & Zhang, ZJ 2024, 'A review of artificial sebum formulations, their compositions, uses and physicochemical characteristics', International Journal of Cosmetic Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.13022

Dzinovic, E, Clark, L, Keyhani, N, Al Morhiby, N, Byford, P, Wang, S, Gamea, S, Chu, K, Wnuk, E, Liu, Y, Rosik, N, Giuliani, F, Pugno, NM, Zhang, ZJ, Addison, O & Elsharkawy, S 2024, 'Bioinspired Physico‐Chemical Surface Modifications for the Development of Advanced Retentive Systems', Advanced Materials Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202400928

Avila-Sierra, A, Montoya-Guzman, R, Zhang, ZJ, Fryer, PJ & Vicaria, JM 2024, 'Cleaning Performance of Stainless Steel Surfaces Fouled with Preheated Starch-Protein Binary Mixtures: Mechanical Properties, Removal Mechanisms, and In-Place Cleaning', Journal of Food Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2024.112257

Peng, X, Chen, L, Li, B, Tang, Z, Jia, Y, Zhang, ZJ, Yu, Q & Wang, L 2024, 'Flexible Phase Change Materials with High Energy Storage Density Based on Porous Carbon Fibers', Polymers, vol. 16, no. 24, 3547. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243547

Bistis, P, Cabedo, PA, Bakalis, S, Groombridge, M, Zhang, ZJ & Fryer, PJ 2024, 'Mechanical cleaning of food soil from a solid surface: A tribological perspective', Journal of Food Engineering, vol. 366, 111858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2023.111858

Han, X, Scialla, S, Limiti, E, Davis, ET, Trombetta, M, Rainer, A, Jones, SW, Mauri, E & Zhang, ZJ 2024, 'Nanoscopic gel particle for intra-articular injection formulation', Biomaterials advances, vol. 163, 213956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.213956

Squillace, O, Zhang, T, Argentou, L, Ward, A & Zhang, ZJ 2024, 'Nanoscopic wetting behaviour of single oil droplets on a fibre', Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, vol. 701, 134729. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.134729

Majerczak, K, Shi, Z, Zhang, Z & Zhang, ZJ 2023, 'Diffusion kinetics of molecular probe in thin poly(vinyl alcohol)-based films', Progress in Organic Coatings, vol. 185, 107833. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2023.107833

Avila-Sierra, A, Moreno, JA, Goode, K, Zhu, T, Fryer, PJ, Taylor, A & Zhang, ZJ 2023, 'Effects of structural and chemical properties of surface coatings on the adsorption characteristics of proteins', Surface and Coatings Technology, vol. 452, 129054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2022.129054

Review article

Hill, R, Phipps, J, Greenwood, R, Skuse, D & Zhang, ZJ 2024, 'The effect of pre-treatment and process conditions on the gas barrier properties of fibrillated cellulose films and coatings: A review', Carbohydrate Polymers, vol. 337, 122085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122085

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