One of the most significant challenges facing the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and aircraft is mass, as even the most current electric vehicle batteries and supercapacitors are incredibly heavy.
Most of the research aimed at lowering the mass of electric vehicles focuses on increasing the energy density, thus reducing the weight of the battery or supercapacitor itself. However, a team led by Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus believes that lighter electric vehicles and aircraft can be achieved by storing energy within the structural body panels. In an article published in Matter, the research team described the process of creating new supercapacitor electrodes that have drastically improved mechanical properties. The team created strong and stiff electrodes based on dopamine functionalized graphene and Kevlar nanofibers. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is a highly adhesive molecule that, when paired with calcium ions, leads to a significant improvement in mechanical performance.
Researchers also reported supercapacitor electrodes with the highest multifunctional efficiency to date for graphene-based electrodes, opening the door to lighter electric vehicles and aircraft.
Featured Researcher
Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus
- Professor; Presidential Impact Fellow
- Axalta Coating Systems Chair
- Holder of William and Ruth Neely Faculty Fellowship