Forty years ago he created a class of remarkable compounds called cyanobiphenyls, which form stable liquid crystals over a wide temperature range, including room temperature.

Almost any food can make you ill if kept for too long within the warm temperature range in which the spores of bacteria germinate.

That, however, can limit the upper temperature range.

Manufacturers were found to be using software to switch off emissions controls outside a narrow temperature range but officials accepted their claim that they did so to protect the engine.

Research focuses on improving energy density, reducing internal resistance, expanding temperature range, increasing lifetimes and reducing costs.