This month, C4IP is honoring John B. Goodenough (1922-2023), whose work on the invention of the lithium-ion battery powers billions of high-tech devices and is reshaping renewable energy.
- Born in Germany and raised in Connecticut, Goodenough earned his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chicago after serving in World War II and went on to teach at Oxford University.
- Goodenough and his colleagues developed the first lithium-ion battery, offering an unprecedented combination of high capacity and voltage, lightweight design, rechargeability, and a long life cycle.
- Goodenough’s invention was patented in 1982 and earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019.
- Lithium-ion batteries are integral to nearly all of today’s electronic technologies, including cell phones, power tools, and even electric vehicles.
- The market for these batteries is estimated to be worth nearly $200 billion today, driven largely by growing demand for electric vehicles.
- In the United States alone, increasing battery production could create 125,000 manufacturing jobs by 2032.
- And lithium-ion batteries aren’t only driving economic growth — they’re also helping address climate challenges by storing energy from solar and wind sources and offering recycling opportunities to reduce their environmental footprint.