Chemistry Nobel goes to lithium-ion battery developers

LONDON

Three prominent scientists have jointly been awarded 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for the development of lithium-ion batteries", the award-giving body said on Wednesday.

John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino won the prize, Goran Hansson, Secretary-General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said at a news conference.

Goodenough, 96, has become the oldest person who has won a Nobel.

Lithium ion batteries are known as the first truly lightweight batteries. They are widely used in portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones and pacemakers.

Nobel week will continue on Thursday with two Literature Prizes and the Peace Prize on Friday.

Also, the Academy will announce Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences on Monday.

This year will see two literature prizes awarded as the one last year was suspended after a scandal rocked the Swedish Academy.