Lithium-Ion Battery

The lithium-ion battery is the most commercially successful energy-storage breakthrough ever, powering over 5 billion portable devices annually and accelerating the electric vehicle revolution. Developed collaboratively by John Goodenough, Stanley Whittingham, and Akira Yoshino between the 1970s and 1991, these cells offer energy densities exceeding 250 Wh/kg—more than double that of the runner-up, nickel-metal hydride batteries. This 30% lower weight than typical rival chemistries enables thinner smartphones and longer-range EVs. Goodenough's cobalt-oxide cathode, combined with Yoshino's carbon anode, set the stage for a global shift away from fossil fuels. The battery's rechargeability over 500+ cycles reduces e-waste, outperforming the disposable alkaline cells that dominated prior decades. Today, lithium-ion technology supports a $50 billion market, with its safety and efficiency unmatched by earlier alternatives.