VESTAL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) - It was five years ago on Tuesday that Binghamton University Chemistry Professor Stan Whittingham received one of the greatest honors a scientist can achieve.

Whittingham shared the 2019 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for inventing the lithium-ion battery.

Lithium batteries have become ubiquitous in modern society powering smart phones, laptops, electric vehicles and more.

BU President Harvey Stenger joined other school officials in honoring Whittingham with the unveiling of a plaque in the lobby of the Couper Administration Building.

Whittingham says the award has helped to unlock much-needed state and federal funding in an effort to turn Greater Binghamton into a hub for lithium battery research and manufacturing.

"I invented lithium batteries 50 plus years ago and then they migrated to Asia. It's been my goal to bring them back to this country. I think we've been very fortunate in New York State, has given us money for a dry room, gave us money for equipment in the dry room, and then, just before COVID, basically they were going to give us $50 million for the larger facility," said Whittingham.

BU's New Energy New York initiative ended up receiving that $50 million in September 2022 in conjunction with a federal Build Back Better award of $63 million. It's also been designated a tech hub for batteries by the federal government and has gotten a National Science Foundation Engines grant that could bring as much as $160 million to the effort.

The accolades for the British-born Whittingham aren't over. He's scheduled to officially become Sir M Stanley Whittingham on January 15 during a knighting ceremony with King Charles of England at Windsor Castle.