Jodie L. Lutkenhaus (B.S. Chemical Engineering 2002), professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University and alumna of the Cockrell School's McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, is the recipient of the 2022 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Engineering from The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST). She was chosen for her innovation and development of redox active polymers for metal-free energy storage and smart coatings.
By developing new molecular-scale characterization methods, Lutkenhaus discovered fundamental connections among polymer dynamics, properties and performance. Specifically, through the use of an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with a dissipation monitoring device, she developed new ways to closely observe the response of polymers in some of the most challenging environments. In 2021, she and her collaborator TAMEST member Karen Wooley, Ph.D. (NAS), Texas A&M University demonstrated the world’s first degradable peptide battery.
These types of discoveries have led to new designs for metal-free organic batteries that will address society’s needs for materials that are earth-abundant and recyclable or degradable. Her concept of a 100-percent polymer battery, which would steer battery production away from cobalt and other precious metals, has the potential to charge and discharge much faster than traditional versions.
