John Goodenough, 2019 Nobel Prize winner in 2019 for groundbreaking work on the development of lithium-ion batteries, has passed away at the age of 100. 

Dr Goodenough's invention revolutionised technology by enabling rechargeable power in devices such as mobile phones and electric cars.

His advancements included doubling the battery's capacity by employing cobalt oxide in the cathode and eliminating volatile pure lithium, making the batteries safer for general commercial use.

He also contributed to the development of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathodes, which offer a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative for electric vehicle batteries.

He also acknowledged that he never anticipated his technology’s profound impact on electronics and various other fields.

Jay Hartzell, the president of the University of Texas at Austin, where Dr Goodenough had been a faculty member for 37 years, praised him as a leader in scientific research throughout his career.

The renowned scientist died on Sunday at an assisted living facility in Austin, although the cause of death has not been disclosed. 

Dr Goodenough, along with M Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino, was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2019 for his contributions to the development of commercial rechargeable batteries. He was the oldest-ever recipient of the award. 

Dr Goodenough's work, combined with Whittingham and Yoshino's breakthroughs, paved the way for the creation of lithium-ion batteries, the first portable and rechargeable batteries. 

Reflecting on his achievement, Dr Goodenough expressed his gratitude for not being forced to retire at 65, saying; “Live to 97 and you can do anything”.

Born in Germany in 1922, Dr Goodenough obtained a PhD in chemistry from the University of Chicago and conducted pioneering research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Later, he made his significant lithium-ion discoveries while leading the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Oxford. 

Even after receiving the Nobel Prize, Dr Goodenough continued teaching and researching battery materials and solid-state science and engineering at the University of Texas.

John Goodenough's remarkable contributions have forever shaped the landscape of technology and solid-state science, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of rechargeable power.