An Electrobat cab
A brief history of the first ECS Meeting
The newly formed American Electrochemical Society (which would become The Electrochemical Society) held its first meeting from April 3–5, 1902.* Earlier, Charles John Reed III, an independent electrochemistry consultant, had proposed creating a new electrochemistry section of the American Chemical Society (ACS). When ACS dragged its heels, Reed appealed to Joseph W. Richards, Professor of Metallurgy at Lehigh University, who agreed to become involved. Reed, Roberts, Carl Hering, E. F. Roeber, Samuel P. Sadtler, and William H. Wahl sent 30 letters to engineers, chemists, and scientists, which said:
“The rapidly growing importance of the subject of electrochemistry and the want of suitable occasions in this country for the discussion of papers and questions pertaining thereto by those specially interested have suggested the advisability of founding a National Electrochemical Society…”1
Posted in ECS Classics
ECS Mourns Passing of Nobel Laureate and Community Member
Rudolph Marcus
Rudolph Marcus, who was born on July 21, 1923, passed away on July 16, 2026. Through his long career, Dr. Marcus inspired generations of electrochemists. His contributions will continue to inspire generations to come—just as he did at the 182nd ECS Meeting, where he received the call informing him that he had been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
On October 14, 1992, Dr. Marcus was presenting his second paper, “Electron Transfer Across Interfaces,” at the 182nd ECS Meeting in Toronto, Canada, when an urgent call, purporting to be from the Royal Academy of Science in Stockholm, came into the office for him.1 Rather than interrupt Dr. Marcus for what could be a prank, the office called the Academy. Yes, the call was real. However, Stockholm refused to say what they were calling about! (more…)
ECS Webinar: “Changes in Structure and Ionic Resistance of Lithium-Ion Battery Graphite Electrodes”
Posted on July 13, 2026 by Maggie Hohenadel
The Electrochemical Society Names Class of 2026 ECS Fellows
Posted on June 30, 2026 by Genevieve GoldyThe Electrochemical Society (ECS) has selected eleven distinguished members to join the 2026 Class of ECS Fellows. Established in 1989, this notable honor recognizes individuals for their outstanding technological contributions to electrochemistry and solid state science, as well as their dedicated service and active participation in the Society.
The 2026 Class of ECS Fellows will be formally inducted on October 26, 2026, during the 250th ECS Meeting in Calgary, Canada.
Learn more about our newest Fellows in the fall 2026 issue of ECS Interface and join us in congratulating them on this esteemed achievement. (more…)
Posted in Announcements
ECS Webinar: “The discovery of mesoporous carbon support with characteristic porosity and the art of mastering its use”
Posted on June 16, 2026 by Maggie Hohenadel
249th ECS Meeting: General Student Poster Session Award Winners
Posted on June 8, 2026 by Maggie Hohenadel
From left to right: Rebecca Willner, Marola Lenhard, and Leonhard Tannesia. (Photo by PaulSakuma.com)
Congratulations to Marola Lenhard, Leonhard Tannesia, and Rebecca Willner, winners of the 249th ECS Meeting Z01—General Student Poster Session Awards. Please take a moment to celebrate all the Z01 participants’ excellent work!
ECS Webinar: “Is LMFP the next big thing for EV batteries?”
Posted on June 4, 2026 by Maggie Hohenadel
Panels Focus on Electrochem Grad Student and Postdoc Career Choices and Professional Development
Posted on May 15, 2026 by Frances ChavesECS 249: Z05 Young Researchers in Western North America – A Special Symposium and Workshop
The Z05 Symposium and Workshop takes place on Sunday and Monday, May 24–25, 2026, in Seattle, WA, during the 249th ECS Meeting. The symposium includes three expert panels from academia and industry, offering graduate students and postdocs valuable insights into career paths and professional development in the ever-evolving field of electrochemistry. Nobel laureate M. Stanley Whittingham is featured in the third panel.
The symposium is designed to:
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Strengthen the academic and professional network of early-career researchers across Western North America;
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Foster meaningful connections among scientists and engineers;
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Introduce relevant research grant opportunities;
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Provide space for participants to share their work and experiences.
Panelists will be available during coffee breaks to provide feedback and engage in networking discussions. (more…)
ECS Webinar Q&A: “Cobalt Dissolution from PtxCo/C Cathode Catalysts in PEM fuel cells: In Situ Quantification and Removal Methods”
Posted on May 4, 2026 by Maggie Hohenadel
Markus Schilling
Markus Schilling
Technische Universität München
The Electrochemical Society hosted “Cobalt Dissolution from PtxCo/C Cathode Catalysts in PEM fuel cells: In Situ Quantification and Removal Methods,” a webinar by Markus Schilling (Technische Universität München), on April 15, 2026. A live Question and Answer session followed. Some questions not addressed during the broadcast are answered below.
Replay webinar