John B. Goodenough, a former WWII soldier, is best known for helping develop the lithium-ion battery, a revolutionary invention that powers everything from cellphones and laptops to military systems. In recognition of his work, Goodenough shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Michael Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino. The batteries, valued for their high energy output, light weight, and long lifespan, have become crucial to modern life, including military applications, with the U.S. Department of Defense releasing a “Lithium Battery Strategy 2023-2030” to secure their supply chain.
Goodenough’s path to this groundbreaking achievement began in the 1980s when he improved upon the lithium-ion battery research initiated by Whittingham in the 1970s. By 1991, Akira Yoshino’s further refinements made it commercially viable. Apart from his work on batteries, Goodenough also contributed to the development of the first random-access memory, a cornerstone of modern computing.
Goodenough’s story began long before his scientific triumphs. During WWII, he served as a meteorologist with the Army Air Force, where he gained a reputation for accurate weather predictions, even guiding General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s safe arrival in Paris. His experience in forecasting played a key role in wartime decisions, demonstrating the importance of precision under pressure.
Goodenough passed away at 100 in 2023, leaving behind a legacy that transformed technology and made a lasting impact on the world.
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