Father of Electric Vehicle Batteries, Oldest Nobel Laureate Professor Goodenough Passes Away (Comprehensive)

Passed away at 100... Nearly 50 Years of Battery Research
Won Nobel Prize in Chemistry at Age 97 in 2019
Dedicated to Research into His 90s Without Retirement

John B. Goodenough, a chemist who contributed to the development of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and other applications, and who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 at the age of 97, becoming the oldest Nobel laureate in history, has passed away at the age of 100.

According to the New York Times (NYT) and other sources on the 26th (local time), the University of Texas announced that Professor Goodenough died the previous day at a nursing facility in Austin. Professor Goodenough served as a faculty member at the University of Texas for 37 years, starting in 1986.

2019 Nobel Chemistry Prize winner John Goodenough, Professor at the University of Texas (Photo by University of Texas)

Jay Hartzell, president of the University of Texas, mourned Professor Goodenough’s death, saying, "As an outstanding scientist, John’s legacy is immeasurable, and his discoveries have improved the lives of billions of people worldwide."

Professor Goodenough was a key figure in the development of lithium-ion batteries, which are now regarded as a spearhead of eco-friendly energy. Throughout his tenure at the University of Texas, he focused on battery materials and devoted himself to research that laid the scientific foundation for next-generation rechargeable batteries. In particular, Professor Goodenough developed lithium-ion batteries capable of delivering up to 4V of power by using cobalt oxide cathode materials. He found a way to increase voltage while maintaining the size of lithium-ion batteries by storing high-density energy.

In 2019, Professor Goodenough was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Stanley Whittingham, a professor at the State University of New York, and Akira Yoshino, an honorary fellow at Asahi Kasei affiliated with Meijo University in Japan, in recognition of their contributions to the development of lithium-ion batteries. Goodenough and Whittingham were credited with creating the initial battery structure, while Yoshino was recognized for commercializing it. At the time, 97-year-old Goodenough set the record as the oldest Nobel laureate across all categories.

The Nobel Committee stated at the time, "Their research led to the development of lightweight, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, laying the foundation for a society free from chemical fuels and revolutionizing human life." They also noted that "lithium-ion batteries are currently used in various fields such as smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles."

2019 Nobel Chemistry Prize winner John Goodenough, Professor at the University of Texas (Photo by University of Texas)

Born in Germany in 1922, he moved to the northeastern United States with his American parents and grew up there. He reportedly struggled with dyslexia as a child. He graduated from Yale University in 1944 with a degree in mathematics and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in physics from the University of Chicago. After completing a research fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory in 1952, he worked there until 1976. Early in his career, he was part of the team developing computer RAM and also contributed to the development of the United States’ first air defense system plan.

He began focusing on lithium-ion battery development in 1976. After moving to Oxford, he received funding from the U.S. government, which was seeking alternative energy sources to fossil fuels such as oil due to the oil shock. This support enabled Professor Goodenough 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. He reportedly advised those around him, "Don’t retire too early." Recently, he conducted various studies aimed at realizing next-generation lithium metal batteries. In 2020, he also collaborated with SK Innovation on next-generation battery technology development.

The NYT reported, "Before winning the Nobel Prize, Professor Goodenough was not widely known outside academia and industrial magnates who exploited his research," adding that "he cared little about money and gave up most of his rights." Furthermore, Professor Goodenough did not receive royalties related to battery research, shared patents with colleagues, and donated prize money earned from his research to further studies or scholarships.

Professor Goodenough was married for over 70 years until his wife passed away in 2016. They had no children.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.