POTSDAM -- A Clarkson professor and Hannawa Falls resident is using hemp and peanut shells to create more efficient batteries.

David Mitlin, a professor of both chemical, bio-molecular, mechanical and aeronautical engineering, recently received international media attention for producing supercapacitors out of hemp bast fiber -- the material found inside the bark of the hemp plant.

The new "super caps" performed on a par with or better than graphene -- the industry standard -- and at a fraction of the cost. The hemp used is legal to grow and contains no THC.

Bridging the gap between electrolytic capacitors and rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors can store more energy than electrolytic capacitors, can accept and deliver a charge much faster than batteries, and tolerate many more charge and discharge cycles than rechargeable batteries. They are used in applications requiring many rapid charge/discharge cycles, rather than long-term compact energy storage -- like cars, buses, trains, cranes and elevators.

Most recently, Mitlin and his research team used peanut shells to create a hybrid sodium ion capacitor (NIC) or "super capattery," which bridged the gap between conventional ion batteries and supercapacitors.

Mitlin's research spans both renewables and conventional energy topics, focusing on the creation of new materials for sodium ion batteries and lithium ion batteries, and electrochemical capacitors for aggressive oil refining environments.

The Mitlin is the chair of the GE Chair in Oil & Gas Systems, which was was established through a gift from General Electric.

GE has the second highest number of Clarkson graduates working for them, with over 500 throughout its various companies.

In addition to being one of the University's most active recruiters, GE partners with Clarkson on research projects, academic programs, graduate fellowships, and student activities. Mitlin will be the main point of contact for GE Oil & Gas on campus, oversee the work of the GE Oil & Gas graduate students and engage with faculty in order to ensure strong career pipeline development.

A native of Olean, Mitlin says that he is delighted to be back in New York State and hopes to find materials indigenous to the North Country to use in research at his new Clarkson laboratory

Before coming to Clarkson in the fall, Mitlin was a professor at the University of Alberta (2004-2014) and a directors-funded post-doctoral fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory (2002-2004). From 2000 to 2002, he also worked as an integration engineer at the IBM Semiconductor Research and Development Center in Hopewell Junction.

While at the University of Alberta, Mitlin secured more than $8 million in research grants from the federal government, the province and from industry; and successfully funded and led a group of nine graduate students and one post-doctoral fellow.

Alta Supercaps, a start-up formed by Mitlin, is focusing on providing competitively priced supercapacitors to compete in existing and emerging markets, including consumer electronics and hardware, and oil/gas/mining exploration environments.

Mitlin will reside with his family in Hannawa Falls.