Ellis Ridgeway Lippincott: A Legacy of Scientific Innovation

Ellis R. Lippincott is one of the most influential spectroscopists of the past 100 years. He has been a notable research figure in molecular spectra and structure studies using infrared and Raman spectroscopy; in the study of potential energy functions, including hydrogen bonding; and in the invention and study of high pressure spectroscopic studies using the high-pressure diamond anvil cell. He also has applied spectroscopic techniques and analysis to the study of planetary atmospheres, to biochemistry, and to chemical lasers.

Ellis Ridgeway Lippincott, born on July 6, 1920, in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, emerged as a key figure in the field of chemistry and spectroscopy. His distinguished career, in collaboration with Richard Lord and Bryce Crawford, led to significant contributions in the field of chemical infrared (IR) spectroscopy in the United States and beyond. He was a pioneer in defining the landscape of high-pressure research, and also in relevance of infrared spectra in patent examination.

Photo Credit: Optica Publishing Group. Copyright: copyright@optica.org (10)

Lippincott’s early life hinted at the brilliance that would characterize his academic journey. In the 1930 Federal Census, young Lippincott was recorded as living in Medford, New Jersey, with his father Ellis R. Lippincott and mother, E. Florence Stapler. His academic achievements resulted in a BA in chemistry from Earlham College, a private liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana, graduating in 1943. Undeterred by the challenges of World War II, he continued his educational pursuits, earning an MA from Johns Hopkins in 1944, and ultimately earning his PhD in chemistry in 1947. One year later, Lippincott married his beloved wife Rita, marking the beginning of a life dedicated to both family nurturing and scientific exploration (1).

Lippincott’s academic journey unfolded across various tier 1 academic institutions. He served as an instructor of chemistry at the University of Connecticut from 1948 to 1950, an associate professor at Kansas State University from 1951 to 1955, and finally, as a professor at the University of Maryland from 1955 until his untimely death in 1974.

Throughout his career, Lippincott received prestigious honors, underscoring his impact on the field. In 1964, he was honored with the United States Department of Commerce Commendation Certificate, and the same year saw him receive the Hillebrand Prize from the Chemical Society of Washington, a branch of the American Chemical Society, for original contributions to the science of chemistry (2). These awards highlighted Lippincott’s expertise and contributions to both infrared and Raman spectroscopy, specifically as related to molecular spectra and structure, potential energy functions, hydrogen bonding, high-pressure infrared spectroscopy, the application of spectral studies to biochemistry, and to the development of chemical lasers.

Lippincott’s significant recognition was not confined to his accolades due to his groundbreaking work; his laboratory at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Maryland in College Park became an active hub for many researchers for scientific inquiry regarding spectroscopic and fundamental chemistry.

Scientific Contributions: A Journey of Innovation

Lippincott’s impact on the scientific community has extended beyond the walls of academia. His journey into vibrational spectroscopy began with the development of the Lippincott-Schroeder (LS) potential, an innovative one‐dimensional potential function model for hydrogen bonding. The Lippincott-Schroeder potential was developed by Lippincott and Rudolph Schroeder from the Department of Chemistry at Kansas State College (now Kansas State University) as a theoretical model for hydrogen bonding. Published in 1955 (3), this fundamental research, cited almost 900 times as of February, 2024, describes the potential energy associated with the interaction between hydrogen atoms and an electronegative partner in a molecular complex. Despite being proposed in the 1950s, the LS potential has proven to be an enduring and accurate model for hydrogen bonds, remaining relevant even with the advent of sophisticated ab initio computations seven decades later. Multiple papers have been published evaluating and testing this model against experimental data, and it continues to stand as an accurate representation of the hydrogen bond, showcasing Lippincott’s valuable contributions to chemistry. According to Google Scholar, there are 377 scientific papers published that have, in some aspect, evaluated the LS model (4).

Transitioning to the University of Maryland, Lippincott’s multidimensional expertise blended experimental and theoretical approaches. Collaborating with scientists at the National Bureau of Standards, the predecessor of the modern National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), he played a pivotal role in the creation of the diamond anvil cell. This revolutionary device allowed routine measurements of spectra at pressures up to 50,000 atm, opening new avenues for research in fields ranging from explosives studies to forensic measurements. In 1961, Lippincott co-founded High Pressure Diamond Optics, a scientific instrument manufacturer that created the first high pressure diamond anvil sampling cells for use with infrared spectroscopy. The creation of this manufacturing business is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to advancing scientific tools (5).

A defining moment in Lippincott’s career came in the early 1960s when he recognized a crucial issue at the U.S. Patent Office. Infrared spectra were not considered characteristic of molecules for patent purposes. Undeterred, Lippincott authored a definitive paper titled “The Limitations and Advantages of Infrared Spectroscopy in Patent Problems.” This seminal work prompted a transformative shift in the U.S. Patent Office’s perspective on IR spectroscopy, highlighting Lippincott’s impact beyond the laboratory (6). In this Journal of the Patent Office Society publication, Lippincott wrote, “This paper attempts to set forth what limitations apply to this use of infrared spectral data, and within those limitations, what area of confident recognition remains.” He continued, “It is pointed out that the competent spectroscopist can always recognize the possibility of uncertainty in his own findings.”

Personal and Professional Impact: A Legacy Remembered

Lippincott’s influence extended beyond the realm of scientific discovery. His life’s narrative takes a personal turn as another “Icons of Spectroscopy” Laureate Peter Griffiths, then a graduate student at Oxford University, recounts a life-changing encounter with Lippincott at the EUCHEM Conference on Far-Infrared Spectroscopy in 1966 (7). A seemingly casual request to teach croquet to Lippincott and Richard Lord set the stage for Griffiths’ transformative journey, ultimately leading him to a post-doc with Lippincott. Griffiths vividly recalls the profound impact of Lippincott’s mentorship, stating, “Working with Professor Lippincott was an invaluable experience. His commitment to scientific exploration and willingness to engage in unconventional approaches inspired my own academic journey.”

Within Lippincott’s animated research group, diverse projects unfolded. From constructing an argon ion laser for early developments of Raman spectroscopy instrumentation to exploring the fascinating realm of “polywater,” Lippincott’s leadership and collaborative spirit fueled original exploration. Collaborating with Margaret Dayhoff and Carl Sagan, Lippincott contributed to the investigation if the atmospheric chemistry of the planets Jupiter and Venus. For Jupiter, the molecular composition of the Jovian clouds was investigated; for Venus, the atomic composition of the atmosphere was determined spectroscopically. This work received more widespread attention from the general and scientific press than most work in atmospheric spectroscopy (8,9).

Lippincott’s enduring impact on vibrational spectroscopy is exemplified through the Ellis R. Lippincott Award, a highly respected recognition jointly sponsored by Optica, The Coblentz Society, and The Society for Applied Spectroscopy. Established in 1975, the Lippincott Award serves as a tribute to his lasting legacy. The award website notes, “The award recognizes individuals whose work reflects the unique blend of theoretical insight, experimental proficiency, and transformative impact exemplified by Ellis R. Lippincott” (10).

Tragically, Ellis Lippincott’s remarkable journey in chemistry and spectroscopy was shorted by Hodgkin’s disease; the scientific community lost a visionary leader on Christmas eve day in 1974—Lippincott was only 54. He found his final resting place at Andrew Chapel Cemetery in Vienna, Fairfax County, Virginia (1).

Lippincott’s life is a testament to the power of scientific curiosity, innovation, and a commitment to reshaping perspectives, and looking at established “truths” with an original and inquisitive perspective. His legacy lives on through the impact of his scientific methods and discoveries. His legacy is celebrated by the Lippincott Award and the continued scientific exploration inspired by his trailblazing work.

References

(1) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91337951/ellis-ridgeway-lippincott

(2) Hillebrand Prize Recipients by Year, Chemical Society of Washington Home Page. https://capitalchemist.org/2018/06/hillebrand-prize-recipients-by-year/ (accessed 2024-01-30).

(3) Lippincott, E.R.; Schroeder, R. One‐Dimensional Model of the Hydrogen Bond. J. Chem. Phys. 1955, 23 (6), 1099–1106. DOI: 10.1063/1.1742196

(4) Google Scholar Search for Lippincott-Schroeder (LS) Paper. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?start=90&q=E.R.+Lippincott+and+R.+Schroeder,+Chem.+Phys.+Lett.+23,+1099+(1955).&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5 (accessed 2024-01-30).

(5) Society for Applied Spectroscopy Lippincott Award Home Page. https://www.s-a-s.org/ellis-r-lippincott-award/ (accessed 2024-01-30).

(6) Lippincott, E.R. The Limitations and Advantages of Infrared Spectroscopy in Patent Problems. J. Pat. Off. Soc’y 1963, 45, 380. https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/jpatos45&div=63&id=&page= (accessed 2024-01-30).

(7) Griffiths, P. Recollections of Ellis Lippincott In Bill Fateley and Ellis Lippincott: Remembering the Men Behind the Awards. Spectroscopy 2013, 28 (2), February 1. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/bill-fateley-and-ellis-lippincott-remembering-men-behind-awards (accessed 2024-01-30).

(8) Sagan, C. E.; Lippincott, E. R.; Dayhoff, M. O.; Eck, R. V. Organic Molecules and the Coloration of Jupiter. Nature 1967, 213 (5073), 273–274. DOI: 10.1038/213273a0

(9) Dayhoff, M.O.; Eck, R. V.; Lippincott, E. R.; Sagan, C. E. Venus: Atmospheric Evolution. Science 1967, 155 (3762), 556–558. DOI: 10.1126/science.155.3762.556

(10) Optica Ellis R. Lippincott Award Home Page. https://www.optica.org/get_involved/awards_and_honors/awards/award_award_histories/lippincotthistory/ (accessed 2024-01-30).

About the Author

Jerome Workman, Jr. serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Spectroscopy and is the Senior Technical Editor for LCGC and Spectroscopy. He is the co-host of the Analytically Speaking podcast and has published multiple reference text volumes, including the three-volume Academic Press Handbook of Organic Compounds, the five-volume The Concise Handbook of Analytical Spectroscopy, the 2nd edition of Practical Guide and Spectral Atlas for Interpretive Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, the 2nd edition of Chemometrics in Spectroscopy, and the 4th edition of The Handbook of Near-Infrared Analysis. ●