Lithium-ion battery development takes Nobel

Abstract

Three chemists honored for creating powerful, light, rechargeable cells.

Abstract

Nobel-worthy research is sometimes hard to grasp. But this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner isn't: The prize was awarded last week to the pioneers of the lithium-ion battery, an invention that permeates modern life, in phones, laptops, and even cars. Lighter and more compact than the rechargeable batteries that preceded them, lithium-ion batteries are now moving beyond gadgets to power homes, airplanes, and even the electric grid that feeds power to entire cities. Three chemists will split the $900,000 prize: Stanley Whittingham at the State University of New York in Binghamton, John Goodenough at the University of Texas in Austin, and Akira Yoshino at Asahi Kasei Corporation in Tokyo.