Welcome to a seminar in the series "Material Matters", this time with Professor Jodie L. Lutkenhaus in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University. Title of the seminar: Organic Batteries for a More Sustainable Future.
Lutkenhaus is internationally recognized for her work on polyelectrolyte complexes, redox-active polymers, and multifunctional battery materials, with a particular focus on the intersection of polymer chemistry, electrochemistry, and materials engineering.
On 17 September, we kick off the autumn edition of the Material Matters seminar series. The series highlights the latest advances in materials development for both emerging and established technologies.
Overview
Abstract
Organic batteries are well-poised to impact energy sustainability because they can be sourced from earth-abundant feedstocks, are safer to operate, and offer unique form factors.
This talk explores not only how organic batteries function but also how they can be recycled or degraded on demand. The focus is on redox-active polymers as active electrode materials. These polymers, with non-conjugated backbones and redox-active side groups, facilitate charge transfer via a hopping mechanism – inherently coupled with the simultaneous movement of ions, electrons, and solvent molecules.
The presentation will examine how polymer architecture and chemistry influence this coupled charge transfer, highlighting correlations among pendant group spacing, backbone flexibility, and solvent interactions. These findings are applied in full battery cells capable of operating at low temperatures and bearing structural loads. One such dual-ion battery design, with polymer electrodes supported on carbon fiber current collectors, operates efficiently even at –50 °C.
With continued improvements in energy density and cell voltage, organic batteries could address several limitations of today’s lithium-ion systems.
About the speaker
Jodie L. Lutkenhaus is a Professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering and Associate Dean for Research at Texas A&M University. She serves as Deputy Editor of ACS Applied Polymer Materials, is a member of the U.S. National Academies Board on Chemical Sciences & Technology, and the U.S. National Committee for IUPAC. Lutkenhaus is internationally recognized for her work on polyelectrolyte complexes, redox-active polymers, and multifunctional battery materials, with a particular focus on the intersection of polymer chemistry, electrochemistry, and materials engineering.
Varun Chaudhary
- Assistant Professor, Materials and Manufacture, Mechanical Engineering
Varun Chaudhary
- Assistant Professor, Materials and Manufacture, Mechanical Engineering
Julia Maibach
- Associate Professor, Materials Physics, Physics and Astronomy
Julia Maibach
- Associate Professor, Materials Physics, Physics and Astronomy
Alexander Giovannitti
- Assistant Professor, Applied Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Alexander Giovannitti
- Assistant Professor, Applied Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
