Karl Kordesch
Encyclopedia
Karl Kordesch was an Austria
n chemist and inventor, most notable for jointly inventing the alkaline battery
.
. He studied chemistry and physics at the University of Vienna
, and earned his doctoral degree in 1948. From 1948–53 he worked at the university's Chemical Institute. He was then recruited as a member of Operation Paperclip
and moved to the United States
, where from 1953–55 he was head of the Battery Division of the U.S. Signal Corps in Fort Monmouth
. In 1955 he joined Union Carbide
in Ohio
, working with two fellow Austrians. He led two research groups: one concerned with the development of manganese dioxide batteries, the other devoted to fuel cell
s. During this time Kordesch filed 22 patents.
In 1957, Karl Kordesch, Paul A. Marsal and Lewis Urry
filed US patent (2,960,558) for
the alkaline dry cell battery, which eventually became the D-sized Eveready
Energizer battery. It was granted in 1960.
Another fundamental contribution that changed the battery world was the creation of the thin carbon fuel cell electrode. He presented a fuel cell demonstration at the Brussels World Fair
in 1958, using a suitcase with a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell. His development of thin electrodes for fuel cells came soon thereafter.
In 1967 he built a fuel cell/NiCad battery
hybrid electric
motorcycle. The motorcycle was featured in television commercials for the program 21st Century, hosted by Walter Cronkite
. He relished telling people how he had to join the actors' union to ride in the commercials. It was fitted with a hydrazine
fuel cell, capable of 200 miles to the U.S. gallon
.
In 1970 he fitted his own Austin A40
with a hydrogen fuel cell (ammonia
being too hard to come by), and used the adapted vehicle as his personal transportation for over three years. The vehicle retained enough room inside for four passengers and had a driving range
of 180 miles. His fuel cell design provided the basis for the 40 kWh alkaline hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell for the General Motors
Electrovan.
In 1977 he was granted early retirement by Union Carbide and returned to Austria, becoming director of the Institute for Inorganic Technology at the Graz University of Technology
(TU Graz). From 1981–83 Kordesch was general secretary of the International Society of Electrochemistry
(ISE). From 1985–87 he was Dean of the Science and Technology Faculty at TU Graz; in 1992 he became emeritus
.
In 1997 he became vice-president of Apollo Energy Systems
, and was tasked with the continued development of fuel cells. His research continued at TU Graz on fuel cell electrode performance, low-cost fuel cell stack design, propulsion fuel (NH3), and an ammonia cracker. He was gratified to see the electric car
and the hybrid-electric make a comeback in his last years. He was 40 years early with the electric hybrid vehicles that he enjoyed building and driving.
In total he filed 120 patents, as well as producing numerous books and over 200 publications, all on the topic of batteries and fuel cells.
He died in Eugene, Oregon
, in 2011.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n chemist and inventor, most notable for jointly inventing the alkaline battery
Alkaline battery
Alkaline batteries are a type of primary batteries dependent upon the reaction between zinc and manganese dioxide . A rechargeable alkaline battery allows reuse of specially designed cells....
.
Life
Kordesch was born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. He studied chemistry and physics at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, and earned his doctoral degree in 1948. From 1948–53 he worked at the university's Chemical Institute. He was then recruited as a member of Operation Paperclip
Operation Paperclip
Operation Paperclip was the Office of Strategic Services program used to recruit the scientists of Nazi Germany for employment by the United States in the aftermath of World War II...
and moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where from 1953–55 he was head of the Battery Division of the U.S. Signal Corps in Fort Monmouth
Fort Monmouth
Fort Monmouth was an installation of the Department of the Army in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The post is surrounded by the communities of Eatontown, Tinton Falls and Oceanport, New Jersey, and is located about 5 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The post covers nearly of land, from the Shrewsbury...
. In 1955 he joined Union Carbide
Union Carbide
Union Carbide Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. It currently employs more than 2,400 people. Union Carbide primarily produces chemicals and polymers that undergo one or more further conversions by customers before reaching consumers. Some are high-volume...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, working with two fellow Austrians. He led two research groups: one concerned with the development of manganese dioxide batteries, the other devoted to fuel cell
Fuel cell
A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used...
s. During this time Kordesch filed 22 patents.
In 1957, Karl Kordesch, Paul A. Marsal and Lewis Urry
Lewis Urry
Lewis Frederick Urry, , was a Canadian chemical engineer and inventor. He invented both the alkaline battery and lithium battery while working for the Eveready Battery company....
filed US patent (2,960,558) for
the alkaline dry cell battery, which eventually became the D-sized Eveready
Eveready Battery Company
Eveready Battery Company, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is an American manufacturer of battery brands Eveready and Energizer, owned by Energizer Holdings.-History:...
Energizer battery. It was granted in 1960.
Another fundamental contribution that changed the battery world was the creation of the thin carbon fuel cell electrode. He presented a fuel cell demonstration at the Brussels World Fair
Expo '58
Expo 58, also known as the Brussels World’s Fair, Brusselse Wereldtentoonstelling or Exposition Universelle et Internationale de Bruxelles, was held from 17 April to 19 October 1958...
in 1958, using a suitcase with a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell. His development of thin electrodes for fuel cells came soon thereafter.
In 1967 he built a fuel cell/NiCad battery
Nickel-cadmium battery
The nickel–cadmium battery ' is a type of rechargeable battery using nickel oxide hydroxide and metallic cadmium as electrodes....
hybrid electric
Hybrid electric vehicle
A hybrid electric vehicle is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional...
motorcycle. The motorcycle was featured in television commercials for the program 21st Century, hosted by Walter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite
Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years . During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll...
. He relished telling people how he had to join the actors' union to ride in the commercials. It was fitted with a hydrazine
Hydrazine
Hydrazine is an inorganic compound with the formula N2H4. It is a colourless flammable liquid with an ammonia-like odor. Hydrazine is highly toxic and dangerously unstable unless handled in solution. Approximately 260,000 tons are manufactured annually...
fuel cell, capable of 200 miles to the U.S. gallon
Fuel economy in automobiles
Fuel usage in automobiles refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed....
.
In 1970 he fitted his own Austin A40
Austin A40
A number of different automobiles were marketed under the Austin A40 name by the Austin Motor Company between 1947 and 1967.Austin's naming scheme at that time derived from the approximate engine output, in horsepower...
with a hydrogen fuel cell (ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
being too hard to come by), and used the adapted vehicle as his personal transportation for over three years. The vehicle retained enough room inside for four passengers and had a driving range
Electric vehicle battery
An electric vehicle battery or traction battery is a rechargeable battery used for propulsion of battery electric vehicles...
of 180 miles. His fuel cell design provided the basis for the 40 kWh alkaline hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell for the General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
Electrovan.
In 1977 he was granted early retirement by Union Carbide and returned to Austria, becoming director of the Institute for Inorganic Technology at the Graz University of Technology
Graz University of Technology
The Graz University of Technology is the second largest university in Styria, Austria, after the University of Graz. Austria has three universities of technology – in Graz, in Leoben, and in Vienna. The Graz University of Technology was founded in 1811 by Archduke John of Austria. TUG, as the...
(TU Graz). From 1981–83 Kordesch was general secretary of the International Society of Electrochemistry
International Society of Electrochemistry
The International Society of Electrochemistry is a global scientific society founded in 1949. The Head Office of ISE is located now in Lausanne, Switzerland. ISE is a Member Organization of IUPAC...
(ISE). From 1985–87 he was Dean of the Science and Technology Faculty at TU Graz; in 1992 he became emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
.
In 1997 he became vice-president of Apollo Energy Systems
Apollo Energy Systems
Apollo Energy Systems, Inc is a US multinational alternative energy corporation headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida that develops, produces and markets fuel cell power plants, electric propulsion systems, and alternative energy generation equipment...
, and was tasked with the continued development of fuel cells. His research continued at TU Graz on fuel cell electrode performance, low-cost fuel cell stack design, propulsion fuel (NH3), and an ammonia cracker. He was gratified to see the electric car
Electric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...
and the hybrid-electric make a comeback in his last years. He was 40 years early with the electric hybrid vehicles that he enjoyed building and driving.
In total he filed 120 patents, as well as producing numerous books and over 200 publications, all on the topic of batteries and fuel cells.
He died in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, in 2011.
Selected works
- Einsatz der Brennstoffzellentechnologie für die dezentrale Energienutzung II, 1999, with Günter Simader
- Fuel Cells and Their Applications, with Günter Simader, 2007, ISBN 3-527-29777-4
- Batteries: Volume 1 – Manganese Dioxide, New York, 1974, ISBN 0-8247-6084-0
Distinctions
- 1967 Wilhelm Exner Medal
- 1986 Technology Award (Vittorio de Nora Award) of the U.S. Electrochemical Society
- 1990 Erwin Schrödinger Prize of the Austrian Academy of SciencesAustrian Academy of SciencesThe Austrian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria. According to the statutes of the Academy its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect and in every field, particularly in fundamental research...
- 1990 Honorary doctorate from the Vienna University of TechnologyVienna University of TechnologyVienna University of Technology is one of the major universities in Vienna, the capital of Austria. Founded in 1815 as the "Imperial-Royal Polytechnic Institute" , it currently has about 26,200 students , 8 faculties and about 4,000 staff members...
- 1992 Auer v. Welsbach Medal of the Society of Austrian Chemists
- 1992 Gold award from the state of Styria, Austria (Großes Goldenes Ehrenzeichen des Landes Steiermark)