97-Year-Old Nobel Laureate in Battery Research... John B. Goodenough Passes Away

Received Nobel Prize at Age 97 in 2019
Recognized for Stabilizing Lithium-Ion Batteries
Continued Research into His 90s Without Retirement

John B. Goodenough, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin who was recorded as the 'oldest Nobel laureate' after receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry at the age of 97, passed away on the 25th (local time). He was 100 years old.

The University of Texas released a statement on the 26th, announcing, "Professor Goodenough passed away the day before." Jay Hartzell, president of the University of Texas, said, "John was an outstanding scientist whose legacy is immeasurable, and his discoveries have improved the lives of billions of people worldwide."

Professor Goodenough is credited with contributing to the commercialization of lithium-ion batteries, which are regarded today as a spearhead of eco-friendly energy.

Professor John Goodenough, University of Texas at Austin [Photo by University of Texas]

His research team discovered in 1979 that incorporating lithium cobalt oxide into lithium-ion rechargeable batteries could store high-density energy, leading to the development of stable materials for lithium-ion batteries.

In recognition of these achievements, Professor Goodenough was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 at the age of 97, along with Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino.

At the time, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences stated, "Lightweight and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are used in all products such as mobile phones, laptops, and electric vehicles," and added, "They have revolutionized our daily lives."

Professor Goodenough was born in 1922 in Germany to American parents. He later moved to the northeastern United States, grew up there, graduated from Yale University with a degree in mathematics in 1944, and earned his master's and doctoral degrees in physics from the University of Chicago.

95th birthday commemorative photo. [Image source=University of Texas]

After completing a research fellowship at the Lincoln Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1952, he worked there until 1976. Initially, he joined the computer RAM development team and conducted research, and from the 1970s, he focused on lithium-ion batteries.

During the 'oil shock' period, when the U.S. government was seeking alternative energy sources to fossil fuels including oil, it funded Professor Goodenough's research team, enabling him to complete research that addressed the shortcomings of batteries.

Even in his 90s, Professor Goodenough actively commuted to the University of Texas and was passionate about research and mentoring younger generations. Until recently, he conducted various studies aimed at realizing the next-generation 'lithium metal' battery.

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