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Dedication: J¨ urgen O. Besenhard (1944–2006)

The first edition of the ‘‘Handbook of Battery Materials’’ was edited by Professor
J¨ urgen Otto Besenhard. J¨ urgen Besenhard began his scientific career at the time,
when the era of lithium batteries came up. With his strong background in chemistry
and his outstanding ability to interpret and understand the complex phenomena
behind the many exploratory research findings on lithium batteries in the late 1960s
and early to mid 1970s, J¨ urgen Besenhard was able to attribute ‘‘performance’’ to
material properties. His early work is evidence for this:

1) Understanding of reversible alkali metal ion intercalation into graphite anodes
(J. Electroanal. Chem., 53 (1974) 329 and Carbon, 14 (1976) 111)
2) Understanding of reversible alkali metal ion insertion into oxide materials for
cathodes (Mat. Res. Bull., 11 (1976) 83 and J. Power Sources, 1 (1976/1977) 267)
3) First reviews on lithium batteries (J. Electroanal. Chem., 68 (1976) 1 and
J. Electroanal. Chem., 72 (1976) 1)
4) Preparation of lithium alloys with defined stoichiometry in organic electrolytes
at ambient temperature (Electrochim. Acta, 20 (1975) 513).

J¨ urgen Besenhard’s research interests were almost unlimited. After he received
a Full Professorship at the University of M¨ unster (Germany) in 1986 and especially
after 1993, when he assumed the position as head of the Institute of Chemistry and
Technology at Graz University of Technology in Austria, he expanded his activities
to countless topics in the field of applied electrochemistry. But his favorite topic,
‘‘his dedication,’’ has always been ‘‘Battery Materials.’’
J¨ urgen Otto Besenhard was an exceptional and devoted scientist and he leaves
behind an enduring record of achievements. He was considered as a leading
authority in the field of lithium battery materials. His works will always assure him
a highly prominent position in the history of battery technology.
Prof. Besenhard was also a highly respected teacher inside and outside the uni-
versity. Consequently, it was only natural that he edited a book, which attempted to
give explanations, rather than only summarizing figures and facts. The ‘‘Handbook
of Battery Materials’’ was one of J¨ urgen Otto Besenhard’s favorite projects. He
knew that materials are the key to batteries. It is the merit of Claus Daniel and the
publisher Wiley, that this project will be continued.