World’s oldest Nobel laureate, John Goodenough who played a leading role in the development of lithium-ion batteries, has died at the age of 100.
He died on Sunday, according to the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked as a professor of engineering. “John’s legacy as a distinguished scientist is immense,” said Jay Hartzell, President of the University of Texas at Austin.
Lithium-ion batteries power millions of electric vehicles around the world. The University of Texas describes him as a “dedicated public servant, a sought-after mentor, and a brilliant yet humble inventor.”
Dr. John received the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry at the age of 97 for his work in batteries, including the development of lithium-ion batteries.
Born in Germany in 1922 to American parents, Dr. Goodenough served in the United States Army as a meteorologist. He received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Yale University, as well as a doctorate in physics from the University of Chicago.
Dr Goodenough was married to Irene Wiseman, who passed away in 2016.
