Stan and Iris Ovshinsky Honored With the American Chemical Society's Heroes of Chemistry 2000 Award

22 August 2000
Stan and Iris Ovshinsky Honored With the American Chemical Society's Heroes of Chemistry 2000 Award
    TROY, Mich., Aug. 22 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD)
is pleased to announce that Stanford R. Ovshinsky, President
and CEO of ECD, and Dr. Iris M. Ovshinsky, Vice President of ECD, were honored
by the world's largest scientific society, the American Chemical Society, for
having made "significant and lasting contributions to global human welfare"
with their "invention of environmentally sustainable energy generation and
energy storage applications."  More specifically, the Ovshinskys are being
recognized for 40 years of energy innovations, including development of better
batteries for electric cars, roof shingles that convert sunlight to
electricity and hydrogen-fuel technology.  As a team, Stan and Iris Ovshinsky
were among other "heroes" representing 10 international corporations who were
honored on August 20 at the 220th American Chemical Society National Meeting
in Washington, D.C.
    "It's not enough to generate energy -- you also have to store it,"
explained Stan Ovshinsky.  "That's why we emphasize systems in our work."  The
quest for a practical electric car illustrates the Ovshinskys' approach.  "The
Ovonic nickel-metal hydride battery has become the enabling technology for
both electric and hybrid vehicles," he said.
    Approximately a billion consumer nickel-metal hydride batteries were
produced last year.  They are used to power mobile telephones, computers and
other devices.  All significant manufacturers of nickel metal hydride
batteries are under license from ECD and its subsidiary, Ovonic Battery
Company.
    In commenting on their work, Iris Ovshinsky said, "Stan and I work as a
team in all areas, and founded ECD in 1960 for the express purpose of using
science and technology to solve societal problems."
    "The ultimate fuel, nonpolluting with the highest energy content, is
hydrogen.  Storing it as a gas or liquid isn't practical, but as a solid it
is," Stan Ovshinsky said.  "We've solved not only its storage issue but also
charging and infrastructure.  With Texaco, we are working to establish several
joint ventures, including in the Ovonic Solid State Hydrogen Storage
System(TM) and the Ovonic Regenerative Fuel Cell.  Recently, Texaco invested
in ECD."
    The Ovshinskys have also developed a unique approach to producing solar
energy.  Thin films of amorphous silicon are manufactured as roof shingles,
integrating photovoltaics with the very structure of a building.
    The Heroes of Chemistry program, started in 1996, honors industrial
chemists and chemical engineers who create commercially successful products
that improve the quality of life.