Nobel Laureate M. Stanley Whittingham on the Future of Energy Storage
Lithium-ion battery pioneer calls for innovation in materials, supply chains and manufacturing
When M. Stanley Whittingham returned to New Jersey this fall, he came not only to deliver the 18th installment of the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series (PDLS) at Stevens Institute of Technology — but also to visit the area near where his journey began. Nearly 50 years ago, as a young researcher at Exxon’s Linden labs less than 25 miles from campus, Whittingham helped create the first rechargeable lithium-ion battery — a discovery that transformed modern life, powering devices such as electric vehicles and satellites.
Now Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science at Binghamton University, Whittingham reflected on that history and urged the Stevens community to look ahead. “We’ve talked enough,” said Whittingham, who received the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering role in the field. “Now we have to do things — make things happen.”
The Limits of Today’s Batteries
Whittingham reminded the audience that despite their ubiquity, today’s lithium-ion batteries remain far from their full potential. “They operate at about 25 percent of the energy density we know is possible,” he said. “That means three-quarters of what’s inside your battery is essentially dead weight.”
Closing that gap could yield enormous benefits: vehicles that go farther, renewable grids that store power reliably and devices that last longer. Researchers worldwide are experimenting with new materials, including single-crystal cathodes that prevent the micro-cracking that shortens battery life. He noted that single-crystal cathodes may one day enable batteries to last more than a million miles, potentially serving both vehicles and the electric grid.
Beyond “Old Gigafactories”
But he cautioned that new materials alone won’t be enough. Manufacturing must also evolve. “We have to stop building new, old gigafactories,” he said. “Instead, we need to leapfrog to cleaner, more efficient processes that will lower costs and improve sustainability."
Today, producing a single kilowatt-hour battery can consume 40 to 80 kilowatt-hours of energy, most wasted burning off the solvent NMP (N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone) used to make electrode pastes. “Switching to dry processing would eliminate NMP and industry’s energy use,” he said.
He also pressed for more localized supply chains. Many of the metals inside a single battery cell travel tens of thousands of miles before reaching a factory floor. “Each continent needs to supply the minerals it’s going to use,” he emphasized. “Otherwise, we’re shipping atoms around the world before reaching a battery. That is not sustainable.”
We've talked enough. Now we have to do things — make things happen.
Looking Ahead Together
Shifting focus to the future, he highlighted immediate challenges and the people who will carry solutions forward. Asked why electric vehicles often lose range in winter, Whittingham pointed to chemistry: “It’s the electrolyte. At very low temperatures it becomes too viscous to conduct ions. To solve that, we need entirely new electrolytes that can operate in extreme conditions.”
He was equally direct about recycling: “We are not going to dispose of them. There’s too much valuable material inside,” he said. “The challenge is to recover it economically and design smarter batteries from the start.”
That same forward-looking mindset, Whittingham emphasized, applies not only to technology but also to people. He turned directly to the students, urging them to see themselves as part of the solution.
Whittingham also spoke passionately about education and the role of students in shaping the field. He credited his teachers and advisors for sparking his career, noting that progress often comes as much from mentorship as from discovery. He encouraged Stevens students to cross boundaries in their research, noting that breakthroughs rarely remain confined to a single field.
“Some of my chemistry students are now full professors of mechanical engineering,” he said with pride. “That’s where the future lies — across disciplines. And it’s up to this generation to carry it forward.”
He urged students to be bold in their pursuits, stressing that the next phase of battery innovation will require not just new ideas but people willing to make them real — and tremendous opportunities lie ahead for those ready to seize them.
Recognizing a Lifetime of Impact
In closing, Stevens President Nariman Farvardin presented Whittingham with the 10th President’s Medal, the university’s highest honor, in recognition of his leadership and transformative contributions to society.
“Dr. Whittingham’s work has changed the way the world is powered,” Farvardin said. “We are proud to celebrate his achievements and grateful for his insights into the urgent challenges ahead.”
The university also announced a new scholarship to be awarded to a talented incoming first-year student next fall in Whittingham's honor. The medalist will be invited to meet the recipient, ensuring his legacy inspires the next generation of innovators.
