Engineer This! Reimagining batteries using dopamine (featuring Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus)

The rise in popularity of electric vehicles and aircraft presents the possibility of moving toward a more sustainable future. While advancements have dramatically increased the efficiency of these vehicles, there are still several issues standing in the way of widespread adoption. One of the most significant challenges facing electric vehicles has to do with mass, as most current electric batteries and supercapacitors are incredibly heavy. 

Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus, professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, and her team are approaching this problem from the unique angle of utilizing the chemical dopamine to strengthen electrodes.