Koichi Mizushima (scientist)

For the Japanese gymnast, see Koichi Mizushima.

Koichi Mizushima (水島公一, Mizushima Kōichi; born January 30, 1941) is a Japanese researcher known for discovering lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂) and related materials for the lithium-ion battery (Li-ion battery). He was affiliated with the University of Tokyo before he went on to work for Toshiba.

Koichi Mizushima
Born	(1941-01-30) 30 January 1941 (age 84) Tokyo, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Alma mater	University of Tokyo
Known for	Discovery of LiCoO2 for Li-ion battery
Scientific career
Institutions	University of Oxford University of Tokyo Toshiba

Early career

Blue plaque erected by the Royal Society of Chemistry commemorating work towards the rechargeable lithium-ion battery at Oxford

Koichi Mizushima was trained as a physicist at the University of Tokyo and received a PhD in Physics from the University of Tokyo. He worked for 13 years in the Physics Department at the University of Tokyo. In 1977, he was invited by Professor John Goodenough in the Inorganic Chemistry Department at Oxford University to join them as a research scientist. During his stay (1977-1979) at Oxford, Dr. Mizushima, along with John B. Goodenough, discovered LiCoO₂ and related compounds now used for the cathode of the Li-ion battery.^[1][2][3] He went on to work for Toshiba.^[4]

Recognition

• 1999 - Kato Memorial Prize
• 2007 - Fellow, The Japan Society of Applied Physics
• 2016 - NIMS Award (National Institute for Materials Science)^[4]
• 2019 - The University of Tokyo President's Special Award^[5]