Michael Thackeray of Argonne elected member of

The inventor of the lithium-ion battery honored.

One of the pioneers of lithium-ion battery research beginning in the 1970s and continuing today, Michael Thackeray, materials scientist emeritus at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, was named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

The NAI Scholars Program highlights academic inventors who have demonstrated a spirit of innovation by creating or facilitating exceptional inventions that have had a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and well-being. of the society. Election as an NAI Fellow is the highest professional honor bestowed only on academic inventors.

Thackeray has made significant contributions to the advancement of battery science and technology over a distinguished career spanning 49 years. His career began in South Africa, where he led early-stage battery research at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) from 1973 to 1994.

Moving to Argonne in 1994, Thackeray worked as a Group Leader in the Electrochemical Energy Storage Department, Director of the Electrical Energy Storage Center, Deputy Director of the Electrochemical Energy Science Center, and Argonne Distinguished Fellow. and senior scientist.

Through his studies and understanding of structure-electrochemical relationships, Thackeray has pioneered the discovery, design and development of new and improved battery materials for industry, particularly metal oxide electrode structures. of lithium for lithium-ion battery systems. He is the author of 230 scientific articles and holds 65 patents. Eight of his scientific articles have received more than 1000 citations in Google Scholar. He is also the author of a memoir, “Running with Lithium – Empowering the Earth”.

Thackeray earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

“My thanks to the National Academy of Inventors for this unexpected honour, to my early mentors, Luigi Nassimbeni at the University of Cape Town, Johan Coetzer of CSIR and John Goodenough at the University of Oxford for their inspiration led to lithium-ion battery science and technology and to the many colleagues who have accompanied me throughout my journey,” said Thackeray.

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