John B. Goodenough
Who was John B. Goodenough?
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2019)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on John B. Goodenough (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
John Bannister Goodenough was born on July 25, 1922, in Jena, Germany, to American parents. His family returned to the United States during his childhood, where he later studied at Yale University and the University of Chicago. After his studies, Goodenough had a long and successful career in materials science and solid-state physics, which spanned over six decades and changed several technological areas.
Goodenough's early research focused on magnetic materials and the core principles of magnetic interactions in solids. His work led to the Goodenough-Kanamori rules, which help understand the sign of magnetic superexchange interactions in materials. These rules became crucial for predicting magnetic behavior in complex materials, establishing him as a leading theorist and experimental physicist in magnetism.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Goodenough turned his attention to electrochemical energy storage, the field that would define his most significant contributions. His research into cathode materials for rechargeable batteries led to the development of lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. This breakthrough made it possible to create lightweight, high-energy-density batteries that now power everything from portable electronics to electric vehicles.
From 1986 until his death, Goodenough was a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, with joint appointments in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. He authored over 800 scientific papers and several influential books on solid-state chemistry and physics. His research also covered fast-ion conductors, computer memory materials, and fuel cells. In 2019, at age 97, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino for developing lithium-ion batteries, becoming the oldest Nobel laureate ever. Goodenough continued his research into his nineties until he passed away on June 25, 2023, in Austin, Texas.
Before Fame
Born to American parents in Jena, Germany, during the turmoil after World War I, Goodenough's early life was influenced by international instability and his family's eventual move back to the United States. He started his academic journey at Yale University for his undergraduate studies before moving on to the University of Chicago for graduate work. It was here, in the 1940s and early 1950s, that he got involved in the fast-developing area of solid-state physics.
After World War II, there was a rapid expansion in materials science and electronics research, fueled by military needs and the new transistor technology. This booming environment was perfect for Goodenough's early career, as many institutions and governments were investing heavily to understand the basic properties of materials. His work in magnetic materials research took off alongside the rise of computer technology and the growing demand for advanced magnetic storage systems.
Key Achievements
- Formulated the Goodenough-Kanamori rules for magnetic superexchange interactions
- Invented lithium cobalt oxide cathode material enabling modern lithium-ion batteries
- Received Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2019) for lithium-ion battery development
- Developed materials for computer random-access magnetic memory systems
- Authored over 800 scientific papers and influential textbooks on solid-state chemistry
Did You Know?
- 01.He continued conducting active research well into his 90s, publishing scientific papers past the age of 95
- 02.The Goodenough-Kanamori rules he developed are still taught in graduate-level solid-state physics courses worldwide
- 03.His lithium cobalt oxide cathode invention in the 1980s became the foundation for the first commercial lithium-ion battery produced by Sony in 1991
- 04.At 97 years and 117 days old when he received the Nobel Prize, he broke the previous record held by Arthur Ashkin by over two years
- 05.He held the distinction of being the oldest living Nobel laureate from August 2021 until his death in 2023
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Chemistry | 2019 | for the development of lithium-ion batteries |
| Fellow of the American Physical Society | — | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Bordeaux | 1967 | — |
| Centenary Prize | 1975 | — |
| Von Hippel Award | 1989 | — |
| ACM Fellow | 1995 | — |
| Olin Palladium Award | 1999 | — |
| Japan Prize | 2001 | — |
| honorary doctorate of the University of Santiago de Compostela | 2002 | — |
| Enrico Fermi Award | 2009 | — |
| Foreign Member of the Royal Society | 2010 | — |
| National Medal of Science | 2011 | — |
| Charles Stark Draper Prize | 2014 | — |
| The Eric and Sheila Samson Prime Minister's Prize for Innovation in Alternative Fuels for Transportation | 2015 | — |
| Clarivate Citation Laureates | 2015 | — |
| Welch Award in Chemistry | 2017 | — |
| Benjamin Franklin Medal | 2018 | — |
| Copley Medal | 2019 | — |
| Washington Award | 2021 | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Jena | — | — |