People

In Memoriam life” of three years, so we marveled that 1969), and vice-chair (1966-1968) we were still able to use Paul’s software and chair (1968-1970) of the Battery for over five times as long. For the Division. He served numerous times first time, we were able to easily track on both the Nominating and the lagtime statistics, data about the source Technical Affairs Committees and as of manuscripts, and produce data that a Technical Advisor to the Battery and could be used in the membership and Electrodeposition Divisions and (what accounting departments. That “marvel” is now) the Industrial Electrolysis and was no matter of luck—Paul not only Electrochemical Engineering Division. maintained that software, but re-wrote it In 1971, he was The Electrochemical many times and added a lot of bells and Society Lecturer. While on the Ways and whistles; and he did it all on a volunteer Means Committee (1981-1985), Paul was basis. the author of a model for use in writing Division and Section bylaws. Paul C. Milner in 1961 when It is harder to measure the work he received the ECS Turner that Paul had done as a volunteer Elected Secretary of the Society Memorial Award. Information Technology (IT) consultant. in 1974, Paul served two three-year In addition to the above-mentioned terms during which time he was a journals database work, Paul also member of the Board of Directors, Paul C. Milner developed databases to manage the the Finance Committee, and the Society’s membership records. Through Publication Committee. He also was 1931-2005 his IT work, Paul led the Society’s chair of the Society Meeting Committee. transition from manual operations to In 1980-1981, he served as chair of An Extraordinary Friend computer systems for all key functions the Publication Committee. He was One of PAUL MILNER’s personal of the Society. elected Vice-President of the Society characteristics was his hesitancy to in 1981 and served as President for publicly accept any accolades; and so, the term 1984-1985. Subsequently, he in an attempt to remedy the situation, served for two years on the Board of we found ourselves writing a special Born in Washington, DC on August 23, Directors and for several years on the thank you to him, to be published in 1931, Paul Chambers Milner received his Financial Policy Advisory Committee. the pages of Interface. This past May, in BS in chemistry from Haverford College Paul was a member of a number of ad the middle of writing this light-hearted in 1952 and his MS and PhD in physical hoc Society committees, and acted as piece, we learned of his death. We came chemistry from Princeton University Society Historian during the period to a halt, not knowing how to proceed, in 1954 and 1956. He was a General 1990-1995. He was a key member of and deeply feeling this loss. We always Electric Co. Fellow at Princeton in 1954- the Society’s Centennial Committee, looked forward to Paul’s presence at 1955. providing a wealth of knowledge about the Society meetings, where he was After serving in the U.S. Navy, Paul the organization, its traditions, and its often to be found behind the counters joined Bell Laboratories as a Member people. In any capacity, Paul was often at registration, helping staff to solve of Technical Staff in 1957. He carried the person to whom members and staff some minor crisis; or out in the halls, out studies on electrochemical kinetics, would turn with questions about history unable to make much progress because reaction mechanisms, and secondary and governance. of being stopped by old friends and new. batteries with particular reference to Paul was made an Honorary Member The is now an the lead-acid and nickel-cadmium of the Society in 1986 and elected a emptier place. systems. He became Department Head of Fellow of The Electrochemical Society What prompted our recent writing Electrochemical Research in 1969 when in 1990. His other society memberships effort was the fact that we recently had his responsibility also included work included the American Chemical processed the last journal manuscripts in corrosion contamination studies, Society, the International Society of through our old manuscript submission electrodeposition, metal finishes, Electrochemistry, Phi Beta Kappa, and software. Now manuscripts are processed electrical contacts, and lubrication. Paul Sigma Xi. retired from Bell Laboratories in 1987. entirely through the PXP software. (See Whether working on the Society’s Interface, Fall 2003, p. 12 and Winter Joining The Electrochemical Society committees or behind the scenes with 2003, p. 18 for details on the PXP in 1958, Paul went on to become the ECS staff, Paul played a huge part system.) The old system was developed one of its most active volunteers and in the Society’s progress; and it is the and maintained by Paul, and ECS has valued leaders. ECS Past-President Bob thousands of ECS members who have enjoyed the ease of use and many other Frankenthal said, “Paul was a wonderful greatly benefited. We know his legacy benefits afforded by this “made-to- mentor. He supported, guided, and will live on in countless instances order” system. Many authors, editors, encouraged me as I became more active and numerous ways, advancing the and staff owe Paul a debt of gratitude in the Society. I learned much about its profession and the scientific disciplines for his outstanding work, not only on strengths and weaknesses and about its in the field of electrochemistry. the editorial processes; but in a hundred governance from him.” other aspects of the Society’s activities. Paul was co-winner of the Francis This notice was prepared by Roque Calvo In 1990, Paul was appointed Mills Turner Memorial Award in 1960 and Mary Yess, ECS’s Executive Director Interim Editor of the Journal of The and served the Society in a number of and Deputy Executive Director, respectively. Electrochemical Society (JES) and was functions. He was co-secretary of the charged with reconstructing the Membership Committee (1960-1965), a editorial process. He probably had no member of the Executive Committee of idea that he would still be involved what is now the Physical and Analytical with JES operations some 15 years later. Electrochemistry Division (1961-1963), Database software seems to have a “shelf a Battery Division Journal Editor (1962-

12 The Electrochemical Society Interface • Fall 2005 In Memoriam Reminiscence about Paul Milner by Dennis Turner, ECS Past-President For many years Paul was an unpaid member of staff, especially at Society meetings. He seemed delighted to help run Society meetings like a member of staff. His long time Society membership and meeting attendance gave him the experience to make all the right decisions and he enjoyed it. I cherish my friendship with him since the day he joined Bell Labs. He was always available to give advice and it was good advice. People always sought him out when there was a problem and usually he had a good solution. Paul was one of a kind and a good model for people to follow.

A Personal Reflection by Barry Miller, ECS Past-President I recently returned from my 50th reunion of the class of 1955 at Princeton and it reminded me that I first met Paul there. We Leo Brewer were both working for Walter Kauzmann—Paul on his PhD and 1919-2005 I on my senior thesis. In 1965, when Paul and I were both at Bell Labs, for my marriage license to Sandra, I needed a witness LEO BREWER passed away on February 22, 2005. Prof. Brewer who was supposed to have known me for some time and, was a member of the chemistry faculty at the University of locally, Paul was the only person who fit the bill. He graciously , Berkeley for nearly sixty years and is universally accompanied us to the appropriate office in Plainfield for the recognized for founding and leading the field of high tempera- purpose. We spent many pleasant evenings with Paul over ture chemistry. His major contributions to solid-state and gas the years, at our home and at his apartment in Chatham, and phase chemistry have shaped the current understanding of think of him only with the greatest fondness. many disciplines within The Electrochemical Society. One of the things about Paul that was true over the last Brewer was born in St. Louis in 1919 and did his under- four decades was his total dedication to ECS. It seemed to me, graduate studies at the California Institute of Technology and especially when Paul was Secretary of the Society, that the graduate work at UC Berkeley on organic reactions. After com- administrative staff depended on him in all aspects of the pleting his PhD in only three years, he joined the Manhattan operation and that Paul was always available. When I became Project in 1943. His assignment was to develop a crucible to Editor of the Journal and we were instituting the then new contain molten —an element that was unavailable editorial system, Paul spent countless hours putting in the and had unknown properties at the time of the assignment, computer system for manuscript handling and getting us out and when it did become available would be made in very of numerous difficulties. As in all things, he liked to operate small amounts. He eventually solved the problem with selflessly behind the scenes, and the Society office staff, as well sulfide, which itself was new and unstudied at the time. This as myself, was dependent on him over an extraordinary range began his long and distinguished career in prediction and of activities. Surely ECS has never had anyone more devoted to critical analyses of inorganic reactions. its purposes than Paul and we shall miss him profoundly. Brewer’s early career centered on thermodynamic measure- ments of inorganic species and understanding the broad impli- A Friend for Thirty-Six Years cations of these measurements. Before the 1950s the complex by V. H. "Bud" Branneky, nature of high temperature vapors was not recognized. From ECS past Executive Secretary basic thermodynamic arguments, Brewer correctly predicted that for a vapor phase in equilibrium with a condensed phase, Paul was chair of the Battery Division when I met him at the the relative contribution of more complex vapor species would spring 1969 meeting in New York. This was the first of 44 increase as the temperature increased. During this time, a Society meetings that provided an opportunity for conversation variety of high temperature gas analysis tools became available and cooperation in solving problems or circumstances of that confirmed his predictions. A good example of this is the concern. Al-Al2O3 system.1 In the condensed phase, the zero and plus In 1974, Paul was elected Secretary of the Society, and three oxidation states of aluminum are expected and observed. Paul arranged for the smooth transition of the office of However at high temperatures a wide range of vapor species the Executive Secretary when I replaced Ernest Enck in with different oxidation states are observed: Al, Al2O, AlO, September 1975. The following year, there was a change in Al2O2, AlO2. Note that the +3 oxidation state is not present in the financial administrative practices of the Society, and Paul these gas species! was instrumental in helping to set up the news systems and Brewer observed that chemical thermodynamic data are procedures. essential for many critical high temperature applications such Paul was a good listener, a gentle person, and always a as energy conversion and chemical processing. He spoke elo- gentleman. He was involved in so many of the administrative quently of the need for such data and met with members of aspects of the Society, including the search for a building Congress to make his case. He felt strongly that the task of the that ECS could call home. Paul was the one person who knew scientist was to release reliable data in a form that was usable the ECS Constitution and Bylaws inside out and was always to all. His deep understanding of many experimental and the- thoughtful in preparing text for any proposed changes. In 1987, oretical approaches allowed him to critically assess available when he retired from Bell Labs, he moved to Peoria, Arizona; thermodynamic data. His critical evaluations2 continue to be but he never stopped providing assistance to the staff. of tremendous assistance to both basic and applied research. Most of us will remember Paul as a kind, unassuming Most of Brewer’s later research was devoted to predicting gentleman, who devoted his life to improving The the phases and stabilities of transition metal alloys. With Electrochemical Society. his characteristic elegance, Brewer showed that basic valence bond theory applied not only to the non-metals, but also to (continued on page 62)

The Electrochemical Society Interface • Fall 2005 13 In Memoriam alcohols, ammonia, and hydrazine) for his responsibilities included overall application to fuel cells. These studies management, administration, technical included electrochemical performance, direction, and execution of an RDT&E reaction mechanisms, catalysis, and program in power generation for component development. Allis- the field Army. This was to provide Chalmers had a major program for the the Army with the most advanced development of a power source for a technology for the generation and farm tractor and eventually became a control of electric power for both mobile major contender in the NASA/U.S. Air and stationary military applications. Force space power program. This was Activities encompassed basic research one of the earliest fuel cell ventures in in energy conversion, exploratory the U.S. development of prototype components and systems, advanced/engineering Leaving A-C for Globe-Union (also development, and testing of prototypes in Milwaukee) Dr. Huff focused on and eventually total production the investigation of anodes, cathodes, James R. Huff engineering and data packages for and nonaqueous electrolytes for procurement. 1931-2005 electrochemical storage devices. With the growth of the military program for During the late 70s, Dr. Huff and JAMES R. HUFF, 73, died of cancer on May other members of the Department 1, 2005 at his home in Albuquerque, “Silent Power Sources,” Dr. Huff went became heavily involved in the U.S. New Mexico. Dr. Huff received his BA to the Army R&D Laboratory at Ft. government program in electric in chemistry from Carleton College and Belvoir, Virginia to head up the Energy vehicles. As a result of this visibility his PhD in physical chemistry from Conversion Research Division. This and his strong desire to build a program Purdue University. He devoted almost enabled him to become involved in, and utilizing polymer electrolyte membrane his entire career to the advancement responsible for, a much broader range of technology he was invited to join the of fuel cell technology, either in R&D electrochemical efforts: hydrocarbon-air staff at Los Alamos National Laboratory. related efforts or program management fuel cells, research on electrocatalysts, After 13 years at Ft. Belvoir, he joined and administration. unique solid and liquid electrolytes (such as trifluoromethanesulfonic the team at LANL to establish and His initial position was as a research acid). Some of the earliest RD&E in build their fuel cell vehicle program. chemist with Allis-Chalmers (A- fuel processing system technology Initially this effort was funded by the C) in Milwaukee. He initiated and came out of the division during this DOE battery program and eventually supervised studies on the oxidation of time. With his promotion to Chief of by the DOE vehicle program, as well as a broad range of fuels (hydrocarbons, the Electrotechnology Department, (continued on page 62)

In Memoriam spacecraft power systems, passed away for aerospace nickel/cadmium and on March 23, 2005, in Mountain View, nickel/hydrogen cells. Dr. Maurer was a California. member of the team that built TELSTAR- Dr. Maurer received his bachelor’s 1, one of the first communications degree in chemistry from Carnegie spacecraft, and continued to support Mellon University in 1954, and his the entire TELSTAR series until recently. doctorate in physical chemistry from He developed power and energy the University of Rochester in 1958. A storage subsystems for numerous other long-time resident of Watchung, NJ, Dr. telecommunications satellites for GE/ Maurer recently moved to Sunnyvale, Astro and later Lockheed. Due to his CA, having accepted a system deep technical expertise, especially engineering technical support position with the aqueous electrochemical with Space Systems/Loral in Palo Alto, impregnation process, Dr. Maurer was California. asked and/or volunteered to assist with the development, production, Dean W. Maurer Born in Berwick, Pennsylvania launch, and operation of many other in 1932, Dr. Maurer made many systems. His work was vital to many U.S. 1932-2005 significant contributions to the field Government programs across the entire of electrochemistry as a member of Longtime friend and member of the aerospace field. His contributions were the technical staff at Bell Laboratories, extensive, and made a major difference electrochemical community, DEAN W. Murray Hill, New Jersey. He did in the fields of aerospace power and MAURER, nationally recognized expert notable work developing the aqueous on aerospace battery technology and electrochemical technology for the electrochemical impregnation process (continued on page 62)

In Memoriam

MANFREID BREITER (1925-2005) — With electrochemical community will miss BRIAN CONWAY — At press-time, Interface his passing, the scientific community him very much. Dr. Breiter joined the learned about the death of Brian lost an outstanding scientist with a Society in 1956, and was a member Conway. There will be a full-length world-wide reputation, who was still of the Battery Division as well as the notice of his passing in the winter issue actively involved in scientific work at Physical and Analytical Electrochemistry of the magazine. the Vienna University of Technology. Division. (This notice was submitted by Our group and our university lost an Guenter Fafilek, Vienna University of MICHAEL A. POULAKOS (1953-2005), authoritative mentor and advisor in Technology.) member since 1980, Electronics and many respects. His friends and the Photonics.

14 The Electrochemical Society Interface • Fall 2005 ECS Visa Help Metallurgical Society in 1982. His revi- were devoted to consulting and the (continued from page 9) sion with K. S. Pitzer of the text on sharing of his broad and extensive that their formal letter of invitation thermodynamics4 by Lewis and Randall knowledge and experience with others. from the Society be faxed to them has been widely used in courses and is Throughout his career he was active or sent via e-mail in PDF format, a standard reference for several genera- in The Electrochemical Society, which thus avoiding postal delays. E-mail tions of chemists. he joined in 1964, and he served on notifications to authors, informing them Behind all these major contributions several ECS committees in the 1980s. that their paper has been accepted, now was a courageous, unpretentious gentle- He was active in other societies as well, include a link to this form. man of the highest integrity. He treated and made frequent presentations at all the major conferences, seminars, and The Society is educating prospective everyone with respect and dignity and meetings devoted to energy conversion attendees about new visa requirements to this day has set very high standards technology. Dr. Huff was truly a “Fuel by providing a direct link from our for the field of high temperature chem- Cell Pioneer” who has had a major website to the U.S. Department of istry. He directed the research of forty impact on the development and State Visa Homepage (www.travel.state. graduate students and nearly two dozen commercialization of fuel cells. He will gov/visa) so individuals can ascertain post-doctoral associates. Among the be sorely missed by the community. whether a visa is required, identify many values he imparted to his students He is survived by his widow, Juliet, and application requirements, locate an and associates were self-teaching and three children.  embassy, and start the application critical analysis of experimental data. process. His boundless energy and enthusiasm for the chemical sciences are recalled by To alleviate some of the logistical This notice was submitted by John B. all who knew him. Through his courses, problems at arrival airports, the Society O’Sullivan. articles, and active participation in meetings staff communicates with professional societies, he instructed and airports and customs, notifying them inspired a countless number of students of major arrival dates so they can be Maurer and scientists throughout the world. ■ properly staffed and otherwise prepared (continued from page 14) for our delegates.  References industry and our country. Dr. Maurer was frequently requested to participate 1. L. Brewer, H. Temp. Sci., 17, 1 (1984). in many symposia conducted by NASA, Brewer 2. L. Brewer and R. H. Lamoreaux, (continued from page 13) USAF, and other government agencies. “Thermochemical Properties, Atomic He held 26 patents and authored many the transition metals3. He built on the Energy Review Special Issue No. 7, technical papers. He retired from AT&T Engel correlation between transition Molybdenum: Physico-chemical Bell Laboratories in 1996 and joined metal electron configuration and crys- Properties of Its Compounds and Loral Skynet. tal structure. He drew on spectroscopic Alloys,” International Atomic Energy An accomplished equestrian and a data for the metals in their gaseous Agency, Vienna, 1980. commercial hot air balloon pilot, Dr. states to determine available electron 3. L. Brewer, Science, 161, 115 (1968). Maurer also served on the Board of configurations. Using these data, he 4. G. N. Lewis and M. Randall, Directors of the Mid-Atlantic Aviation was able to predict the effect of alloy- Thermodynamics, Second Edition Coalition and the Great Eastern Balloon ing additions and pressure on alloy revised by K. S. Pitzer and L. Brewer, Association. structures and stabilities with amazing New York, McGraw-Hill, 1961. accuracy. In analogy to Lewis acid- Dr. Maurer is survived by his wife, base interactions in aqueous solution, Diane, of Sunnyvale CA, and Watchung, This notice was prepared by Nathan Brewer’s theory predicts stable configu- NJ; and son Dorian and daughter- Jacobson (nathan.s.jacobson@nasa. rations between transition metals with in-law Donna, both of Churchville, gov) with help from Alan Searcy, Gerd appropriate electron configurations. PA. Memorial services were held in Rosenblatt, John Gibson, Milan Jaksic, These are a remarkably stable series of Watchung, NJ, and in Mountain View, Michael Cima, and Steve Visco. transition metal alloys, such as ZrPt3, CA, by his fellow employees at Space known as the Brewer-Engel compounds. Systems/Loral. Dean will be sorely Given the large number of metallic ele- missed by all of us.  ments in the periodic table, Brewer’s Huff predictive tools are tremendously use- (continued from page 14) ful in predicting phase relationships This notice was submitted by George and interactions for which there are NASA and DARPA. During this period a Methlie and Dave Pickett. no experimental data. This has found major accomplishment was establishing application in a wide range of fields the joint PEM program with General including metallurgy, nuclear fuels, and Motors and the growth of an on-site co- catalysis. operative effort at LANL. Similarly he convinced Ballard Corp. of the validity Brewer’s association with The of PEMFCs, which led to their entry Electrochemical Society goes back many into an R&D effort to develop fuel cell years. He joined the Society in 1956 vehicle and stationary power plants. and he gave the Society’s first plenary lecture in 1970 entitled “Electrons—The Upon his retirement from LANL Universal Glue.” He received the Olin after 12 years, he joined Ballard Power Palladium Medal in 1971 and the Henry Corp. as their U.S. representative and B. Linford Award for Distinguished chief scientist responsible for technical Teaching in 1988. Brewer earned a overview of the fuel cell programs in long list of other significant honors, the transportation and utility areas. He including election to the National worked closely with representatives of Academy of Sciences in 1959, the E. the U.S. and Canadian governments O. Lawrence Award of the Atomic to maintain critical funding for Energy Commission in 1961, and the portable and military applications as Hume-Rothery Award of the American well. The last six years of his career

62 The Electrochemical Society Interface • Fall 2005