John Goodenough, a Nobel Prize-winning co-creator of the revolutionary lithium battery, dies at 100

John Goodenough, who shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work developing the lithium-ion battery that transformed technology with rechargeable power for devices ranging from cellphones, computers, and pacemakers ...
Goodenough died Sunday at an assisted living facility in Austin, the university announced. No cause of death was given. Goodenough was a faculty member at Texas for nearly 40 years.

Goodenough was the to receive a Nobel Prize when he shared the award with British-born American scientist M. Stanley Whittingham and Japan's Akira Yoshino.

"Live to 97 and you can do anything," Goodenough said when the Nobel was awarded, adding he was grateful he wasn't forced to retire at 65.

And while his name may not ring a bell to most, Goodenough's research helped unlock a revolution in technology now taken for granted in today's world of portable phones, tablets and just about anything else with a plug-in port for a recharge.
Lithium-ion batteries were the first truly portable and , and they took more than a decade to develop. Whittingham said in 2019 that he had no inkling that his work decades ago would have such a profound impact on the world.

"We thought it would be nice and help in a few things," Goodenough said, "but never dreamed it would revolutionize electronics and everything else."

Goodenough, Whittingham and Yoshino each had unique breakthroughs that laid the foundation for developing a commercial rechargeable and the three shared the $900,000 Nobel Prize.

Nobel chemistry winner John B. Goodenough poses for the media at the Royal Society in London, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. Goodenough, who shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work helping develop the lithium-ion battery, transforming technology with rechargeable power for devices ranging from cellphones, computers, and pacemakers to electric cars, died Sunday, June 25, 2023,, the University of Texas announced Monday, June 26. He was 100. Goodenough was a faculty member at Texas for nearly 40 years. Credit: AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File
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2019 Nobel Laureate in chemistry John B. Goodenough looks on after signing a chair as part of the traditional Nobel Chair Signing ceremony at the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, Friday Dec. 6, 2019. Goodenough, who shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work helping develop the lithium-ion battery, transforming technology with rechargeable power for devices ranging from cellphones, computers, and pacemakers to electric cars, died Sunday, June 25, 2023,, the University of Texas announced Monday, June 26. He was 100. Goodenough was a faculty member at Texas for nearly 40 years. Credit: Henrik Montgomery/TT via AP, File
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In this Feb. 1, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Science to Dr. John Goodenough, of the University of Texas, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Goodenough, who shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work helping develop the lithium-ion battery, transforming technology with rechargeable power for devices ranging from cellphones, computers, and pacemakers to electric cars, died Sunday, June 25, 2023,, the University of Texas announced Monday, June 26. He was 100. Goodenough was a faculty member at Texas for nearly 40 years. Credit: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File
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