Lithium-ion Batteries
John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham & Akira Yoshino
About This Prize
The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham, and Akira Yoshino “for the development of lithium-ion batteries.” Whittingham discovered intercalation electrodes using titanium disulfide in the 1970s, Goodenough identified cobalt oxide cathodes that doubled the voltage, and Yoshino created the first commercially viable lithium-ion battery by pairing Goodenough's cathode with a carbon anode. Their work enabled the portable electronics revolution and is now critical for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.
John B. Goodenough
“Designing Lithium-ion Battery Cathodes”
M. Stanley Whittingham
“The Origins of the Lithium Battery”
Akira Yoshino
“Brief History and Future of Lithium-ion Batteries”
Key Concepts
- • Intercalation Chemistry: Reversible insertion of lithium ions into layered host structures without disrupting the crystal lattice
- • LiCoO₂ Cathode: Goodenough's cobalt oxide cathode achieves ~4 V cell voltage, doubling the original TiS₂ design
- • Carbon Anode: Yoshino's use of petroleum coke (later graphite) as the anode eliminated metallic lithium safety hazards
- • Energy Density: Li-ion batteries achieve 150–265 Wh/kg, enabling smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles