Japanese chemist at Asahi Kasei who in 1985 created the first prototype of the lithium-ion battery — combining a lithium cobalt oxide cathode (John Goodenough's discovery) with a petroleum-coke anode in a lightweight, rechargeable cell. Sony commercialised the design in 1991. Lithium-ion batteries now power all portable electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale energy storage, making them the enabling technology of the electric revolution. Yoshino received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 (shared with Goodenough and Whittingham).
- Nationality: japanese
- Roles: chemist, inventor
