Rachid Yazami facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rachid Yazami
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Rachid Yazami in 2011
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| Born | 16 April 1953 |
| Nationality | Moroccan |
| Alma mater | Grenoble Institute of Technology |
| Known for | graphite anode in lithium-ion batteries, graphite cathode in fluoride ion batteries |
| Awards | IEEE Medal for Environmental and Safety Technologies 2012, Draper Prize 2014, Royal Medal (Morocco) 2014, Legion of honour 2016, Takreem Award for Scientific Innovation and Technology (Kuwait City, 2018), Arab Investor Forum Award in Green Applications (UNESCO, Paris, 2019), The Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence and for Life Achievement (Dubai, 2020), The VinFuture Grand Prize (Hanoi, 2023) |
Rachid Yazami (born 1953) is a famous scientist, engineer, and inventor from Morocco. He is most known for his important work in creating the graphite part (called an anode) for lithium-ion batteries. These batteries power many of our everyday devices! He also researches fluoride ion batteries.
Contents
His School Days
Rachid Yazami studied at the Grenoble Institute of Technology and finished in 1978. He later earned a special degree called a PhD in 1985. This showed he was an expert in his field.
How He Changed Batteries
Yazami's early research looked at how graphite could be used in lithium batteries. In 1985, he started working at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). He became a professor there in 1998.
The Big Discovery
In 1980, Yazami was the first scientist to figure out how to put lithium into graphite in a special way. He used a polymer electrolyte in an electrochemical cell. This discovery led to the lithium-graphite anode that is now used in almost all lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are worth over $80 billion today!
Yazami also worked on other graphite materials for batteries. He helped create a company in California in 2007. This company aimed to use his discoveries, especially for fluoride ion batteries (FIBs).
Working Around the World
While working in France, Yazami also visited the California Institute of Technology from 2000 to 2010. There, he studied materials like nanostructured carbon nanotubes. He also looked at how materials change inside batteries.
He developed a new way to check a battery's health and safety. This method helps batteries last longer and be safer. It can even detect small problems early on.
In 2010, Yazami moved to Singapore. He became a professor at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2012. He led battery programs there until 2018. In Singapore, he wrote over 200 papers and has nearly 180 patents for his inventions.
Making Batteries Safer and Faster
Yazami came up with a new idea called "Yazami's Battery Theorem." It helps understand how batteries work. He also found a way to detect a problem called an "internal short circuit" very early. This is important because internal shorts can cause batteries to overheat or even catch fire. His method makes batteries much safer.
More recently, Yazami invented a new way to charge lithium-ion batteries super fast, in 10 minutes or less! This "Non-linear voltammetry" (NLV) method is very important for electric cars. It will help them charge quickly, just like filling a gas tank.
Awards and Recognition
Yazami has written over 250 papers and holds about 160 patents. He has received many awards for his research. These include awards from NATO, NASA, and the IEEE. He also helped start several companies.
Major Prizes
In 2014, Rachid Yazami, John Goodenough, Yoshio Nishi, and Akira Yoshino won the Draper Prize. This award is like a Nobel Prize for engineers. They won it for their groundbreaking work on the lithium-ion battery. The prize included $500,000.
That same year, the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, gave Yazami a special Royal Medal. This medal recognized his great intelligence and contributions.
In 2016, Yazami received the "Chevalier de la Legion of honor" award from France. This is one of the highest honors in France. He has also received awards in Dubai, Kuwait City, and Paris for his scientific achievements.
In 2023, Yazami won the VinFuture Grand Prize in Vietnam. He shared this award with other famous battery scientists.
Nobel Prize Discussion
In 2019, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was given for the invention of the lithium-ion battery. The award went to Stanley Whittingham, John Goodenough, and Akira Yoshino. However, Rachid Yazami was not included.
The Nobel Prize can only be given to up to three people. Yazami believes the committee had to make a tough choice. Even though his graphite anode was key to the battery's success, he was not chosen. Despite this, he congratulated the winners.
