Akira Yoshino Father of Lithium-Ion Batteries

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Many scientists worked in tandem in the 1980’s to invent long-life, rechargeable lithium batteries. In a sense, they piggybacked off each other’s efforts as if playing tag. But Akira Yoshino was first across the line by the balance of probabilities. However this in no way degrades the contribution of John Goodenough and others.

The Razor-Sharp Lithium-Ion Logic of Akira Yoshino

Akira Yoshino
Akira Yoshino: Japan-Sweden Science Symposium

Akira has won numerous awards. Firstly, these include the Russian Global Energy, and U.S. Charles Stark Draper Prizes. Then secondly he has in addition also been the general manager for advanced battery research at Yoshino Laboratory since 2005.

During the 1980’s there was a surge in demand for compact, rechargeable batteries. These would power the new generation of laptops, video cameras, and cell phones on the drawing board. Akira Yoshino says he distilled his battery research to the fundamentals.

Would the lightweight, rechargeable batteries have solid or liquid electrolytes? And moreover, what metals would be in the electrodes? This sounds obvious in hindsight. By 1985, Akira had settled for a lithium-ion solution and filed a priority patent application. The description was a “non-aqueous secondary battery using transition-metal oxides containing lithium ion such as LiCoO2 [lithium-cobalt-oxide] as a positive electrode.  And in addition carbonaceous materials as a negative electrode.”

Now John Goodenough had already reported the possibility of LiCoO2 as a positive electrode in 1979. Moreover, Yazami and Touzain had  also confirmed the first successful intercalation and release of lithium in graphite in 1982. What made the difference is Akira Yoshino was first out the gate to get the idea to work in practice.

The Successful Commercialization of Lithium-Ion Batteries

After numerous attempts, Akira Yoshino finally had a working model he could safety-test for ignition problems. After these did not occur, he handed the baton to Sony Corporation in 1992. The rest is history. That is battery history at least in part due to the razor sharp mind of Akira Yoshino born 1948.

Related

Goodenough’s All-Solid-State-Battery Cells

How Lithium-Ion Batteries Really Work

Preview Image: Lithium-Cobalt-Oxide LiCoO2

The Birth of the Lithium-Ion Battery by Akira Yoshino

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I tripped over a shrinking bank balance and fell into the writing gig unintentionally. This was after I escaped the corporate world and searched in vain for ways to become rich on the internet by doing nothing. Despite the fact that writing is no recipe for wealth, I rather enjoy it. I will not deny I am obsessed with it when I have the time. I live in Margate on the Kwazulu-Natal south coast of South Africa. I work from home where I ponder on the future of the planet, and what lies beyond in the great hereafter. Sometimes I step out of my computer into the silent riverine forests, and empty golden beaches for which the area is renowned. Richard

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