John B. Goodenough
He shared the Nobel Prize for his role in the development of lithium-ion batteries.
Most quoted
"The lithium-ion battery is a testament to the power of fundamental science. We weren't looking for a battery; we were looking to understand materials."
— from Interview/Correspondence
"The development of the lithium-ion battery was a collaborative effort, and I am grateful to all of my colleagues who contributed to its success."
— from Interview/Speech
"Patience is not just a virtue in science; it's a necessity. Many times, the answer is just around the corner, but you have to keep walking."
— from Personal Reflection
All quotes by John B. Goodenough (228)
At 96, I have a little bit of wisdom, and that is: Don't retire too early.
You have to have a certain amount of arrogance to think you can do something nobody else has done.
The lithium-ion battery has helped power the revolution in portable electronics. But we need to do better.
I'm old enough to know you can't close the door on any possibility.
I'm still working. I want to solve the problem. I want to get the answer.
The oxygen redox reaction is the key to unlocking higher energy densities.
We are still searching for the perfect host structure for lithium.
The challenge is to find a material that can reversibly intercalate lithium ions without changing structure.
I went into physics because I wanted to understand why the world is the way it is.
The oxide materials offered a much higher voltage versus lithium metal.
Good science is a dialogue with nature.
You don't have to be the smartest person in the room. You just have to be the most persistent.
The battery is an enabling technology. It will allow us to move away from fossil fuels.
Cobalt is the mineral of blood diamonds. We must eliminate it from our batteries.
I was fortunate. I survived the war and found a calling in science.
The glass electrolyte may be the answer to the solid-state battery.
When you are my age, you realize time is the most precious commodity.
The Nobel Prize is a nice recognition, but the real prize is seeing your work used.
I worry about the young people. They face a world with great challenges.
Science is a collective enterprise. We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before.
Contemporaries of John B. Goodenough
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of John B. Goodenough (1922–2023).