M. Stanley Whittingham

M. Stanley Whittingham, a British-American chemist, was born on December 22, 1941, in Nottingham, England. He grew up in a time that cultivated his interest in science and the physical world. Whittingham’s early education and experiences laid the foundation for a future career in chemistry and materials science, ultimately leading him to significant discoveries in energy storage technology.

In 1968, M. Stanley Whittingham began working at Exxon Research and Engineering Company, where he leveraged his knowledge in chemistry to explore new energy storage technologies. This period at Exxon was critically important as it provided him the platform and resources to investigate lithium-ion systems, eventually leading to groundbreaking developments in battery technology.

In the mid-1970s, specifically around 1976, M. Stanley Whittingham developed the first workable lithium battery, a pivotal moment in battery technology. Whittingham's lithium battery used titanium disulfide as electrodes and lithium metal as the anode, a configuration that offered revolutionary energy density and rechargeability, laying the groundwork for future lithium-ion technology.

In 1988, M. Stanley Whittingham joined the faculty of Binghamton University. His role as a professor involved not only teaching but also directing research efforts in the field of materials chemistry. Whittingham's work at Binghamton University allowed him to continue his groundbreaking research into energy storage and contribute significantly to the academic community.

M. Stanley Whittingham assumed a leadership role at the NorthEast Center for Chemical Energy Storage (NECCES) in 2004. NECCES is a multi-institutional research center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy aimed at advancing the fundamental understanding and development of chemical energy storage systems. Whittingham’s leadership helped direct collaborative research into new materials and technologies for batteries.

On February 17, 2015, M. Stanley Whittingham, alongside Akira Yoshino and John B. Goodenough, was awarded the Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering. This prestigious prize from the National Academy of Engineering recognized their contributions to the engineering field of lithium-ion batteries, which have enabled significant societal impacts in portable electronics.

On October 9, 2019, M. Stanley Whittingham was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with John B. Goodenough and Akira Yoshino for the development of lithium-ion batteries. Their contributions have made portable electronics and electric vehicles possible, revolutionizing consumer technology and contributing to a fossil fuel-free society by reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony took place on December 10, 2019, in Stockholm, Sweden, where M. Stanley Whittingham, along with John B. Goodenough and Akira Yoshino, formally received his Nobel Prize in Chemistry for contributions to the development of lithium-ion batteries. This ceremony marked a significant recognition of his work and its impact on energy storage technologies globally.

In 2020, M. Stanley Whittingham was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. This election to one of the most prestigious scientific organizations in the United States recognized his outstanding contributions to chemistry and materials science, specifically in the field of energy storage systems, and affirmed his influence on modern technology and society.

On October 8, 2022, M. Stanley Whittingham was awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society. The Copley Medal is the world’s oldest scientific prize, and it was awarded to Whittingham for his outstanding contributions to the development of lithium-ion batteries. This honor is a testament to the enduring impact and importance of his work on global technology and energy systems.