One of the most significant technological scientists has passed away. Dr. John Goodenough, who is generally recognized as the inventor of the lithium-ion battery, has passed away at the age of 100, according to the University of Texas at Austin. Even while you may not be familiar with him, he is largely to blame for making electric cars, computers, and cellphones possible.
Lithium batteries have previously been studied by researchers. For instance, Dr. M. Stanley Whittingham created a design that combines lithium and titanium disulfide. The New York Times points out that Goodenough made a significant advancement in 1980 while attending the University of Oxford. Using layers of lithium and cobalt oxide, he created a cathode that increased voltage while also being much safer.
Compared to earlier batteries, including lead acid (used in vehicles) and nickel-cadmium (found in many portable gadgets), it had a far higher capacity.
Before Dr. Akira Yoshino abandoned raw lithium in favor of safer lithium ions, the technology did not advance. For Asahi Kasei Corporation, the scientist created a useful design, and Sony provided the first easily used rechargeable lithium-ion battery in 1991. You already know what followed: the enhanced performance made it possible for mobile devices that were either more portable or just not an option previously. While electric automobiles were now practical, smartphones and computers could get sleeker, quicker, and last longer.
However, Goodenough was in charge of much more. He helped develop the technology that would eventually lead to the random access memory (RAM) you see in many computing devices during his time at MIT in the 1950s and 1960s. He often distributed patents to his coworkers. Up until a few years ago, he was developing the next-generation battery technology that promised ground-breaking performance for renewable energy and electric vehicles. He was also an active researcher far into his nineties.
Despite being mostly unknown to the general public, Goodenough did get praise for his contributions. Among other honors, he was awarded the US National Medal of Science in 2011 and the Chemistry Nobel Prize in 2019.
Lithium-ion batteries are steadily being phased out by industry. Solid-state batteries from automakers will power EVs with better densities, faster charging, and cheaper prices. However, it is reasonable to say that Goodenough’s contributions are what made the present tech environment what it is, and his influence will probably be felt for many years to come.
Dr.Goodenough’s groundbreaking work on the lithium-ion battery, for which he was awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, sparked a revolution in portable electronics. He discovered the viability of lithium cobalt oxide as a cathode material about 40 years ago while in charge of the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory at Oxford University, which allowed the Sony Corporation to commercialize the first rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
Nearly all smartphones, laptops, billions of cameras, and power equipment utilize lithium-ion batteries. Electric vehicles (EVs), which require 10,000 times more energy storage than a single iPhone, are propelled by them. The demand for lithium and other battery materials is being driven by the EV revolution. The EV industry is anticipated to experience exponential expansion in the next years on a global scale. By 2030, the IEA projects that there will be 250 million electric vehicles on the road. There are still substantial obstacles to be overcome, though. The cost of batteries must be brought down, and their effectiveness and lifespan must be increased.
Because they permit the use of a pure lithium metal anode, solid-state batteries are a revolutionary extension of lithium-ion batteries with a capacity for 10 times better energy density. They can eventually provide an energy density that is 500% or more than that of traditional rechargeable batteries while operating at a substantially higher voltage. More energy per charge, which allows electronics to last longer or automobiles to travel farther between charges, is the major advantage of robust solid-state battery technology from the consumer’s point of view. Additionally, they enable charging that is up to six times quicker and cycle life that is years longer.
Despite being the oldest recipient of a Nobel Prize, Dr. Goodenough is still engaged in research today. His initial lithium-ion technique had the major benefit of storing around 10 times as much energy as lead-acid batteries or 5 times as much as nickel-cadmium batteries. “In the 40 years after Dr. Goodenough uncovered his ground-breaking technique, the globe has undergone significant transformation. The first-generation Li-ion battery brought about a lot of technological advancement, but it still has a lot of room for improvement, according to Nick Grundish, director of battery design at EnergyX and Dr. Goodenough’s final PhD student. “We are attempting to provide a route for the eventual abolition of fossil fuels while upending the energy storage industry once more.”
