. Akira Yoshino, M Stanley Whittingham, and John B Goodenough shared the Nobel Prize for their contributions to the creation of the batteries that revolutionized our lives. Each will share the 9m Swedish Kronor prize. The 2019 #NobelPrize in Chemistry has been awarded to John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino “for the development of lithium-ion batteries.” pic.twitter.com/LUKTeFhUbg — The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2019 Their work propelled advances in understanding of the technology that eventually lead to commercialization of the batteries by Sony and Asahi Kasei in 1991. Today, lithium-ion batteries play an important role in wireless technology and a society that is not dependent on fossil fuels. These rechargeable batteries are lighter than other types and can be used to power electric cars and portable electronic devices. The academy stated that they have “set the foundation for a wireless and fossil-free society” and were of great benefit to humanity. M. Stanley Whittingham, a British chemist, first suggested the idea while working in Exxon’s 1970s. Professor Mark Miodownik from University College London was quoted as saying, “I am so happy that lithium-ion batteries have been finally recognized!” These batteries are a key piece of material science and have a profound impact on modern human life. You will be amazed to see that, even though 30 are years old, these discoveries haven’t been overtaken by better technology. This makes it clear how important their contributions have been in shaping the technology that we now take for granted. These contributions, which have opened up new areas for engineering and scientific research, range from powering your smartphone to his pioneering work on magnetism properties. His cathode for lithium-ion batteries was based on his work with Professor Whittingham and made economically viable thanks to the efforts of Professor Yoshino. Scientists rarely make breakthroughs on their own, so it’s fitting that the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for Chemistry for this year be given to both of them. John B. Goodenough was born 1922, Jena, Germany. “I’m looking forward to sharing the celebration with John when he receives his Copley Award from the Society tonight.” Ph.D. 1952, University of Chicago. Virginia H. Cockrell Chair of Engineering, The University of Texas in Austin (USA). Stanley Whittingham was born 1941, UK. PhD 1968, Oxford University, UK. Binghamton University State University of New York. Akira Yoshino, born 1948 in Suita, Japan. Ph.D. 2005, Osaka University Japan. Asahi Kasei Corporation in Tokyo, Japan, and Honorary Fellow at Meijo University in Nagoya Japan.
