In Memoriam
Horányi, György (1934 - 2006)


Professor György Horányi, outstanding electrochemist and distinguished teacher passed away on September 3, 2006 at his home in Budapest, Hungary.
György Horányi was born in Budapest on July 18, 1934. His scientific career started in 1958 when he graduated from chemistry at the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest. He specialized in electrochemistry which was an understandable choice since this discipline had a long tradition at the Chemistry Department. T. Erdey-Grúz, one of the founding fathers of the electrode kinetics was still active in that time. Another heritage of this school was the activity of G. Hevesy who began to develop the radiotracer technique here. Professor Horányi continued on this way. He developed an in situ radiotracer method which proved to be a very powerful tool for the investigation of electrosorption and electrocatalytic phenomena at solid electrodes, ionic exchange processes in polymer modified electrodes and electrochemical oscillations. Although he remained in close contact with the university as a titular professor, in 1961 he joined the Central Research Institute for Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Here, beside the application of radiotracer labelling he has studied many systems with traditional and other combined electrochemical techniques. Some of his results are considered fundamental ones, e.g., the application of nickel oxide electrodes for the oxidation of organic species, open-circuit electrochemical oscillations proving that the periodic changes are in connection with the nature of the electrochemical reactions and not with the electrical circuit, reduction of perchlorate and nitrate ions, reductive splitting of C-OH and C-Cl bonds, the application of tungsten carbide as a hydrogenation catalyst, the clarification of the properties of platinized platinum electrodes. Recently he extended the application of radiotracer technique to the investigation of powered oxide surfaces. These studies contributed to the better understanding of the overall adsorption phenomena in the course of corrosion and constituted a link between electrochemistry and colloid chemistry.
He was the Hungarian National Secretary of ISE for two terms (1980-1986), served in the IUPAC Commission on Electrochemistry and as the chairman of the Committee of Electrochemistry of Hungarian Academy of Sciences for several years. He has been invited speaker in many international conferences, and visiting professor in Japan, Finland and U.S.A. He published 20 monographies, more than 450 research papers which have independent citations over 3000. He has always been ready to help and to advise electrochemists in Hungary and abroad. Practically all the present professors in electrochemistry in Hungary were either his pupils or co-workers.
Last but not least some words about the man. Although he was very stern in scientific and moral matters, he was the most benevolent and supporting person. If I think of Professor Horányi a saying of Juvenalis comes to my mind: “Vitam impendere vero”. It can be translated as “To dedicate one’s life to truth”.
In the last 50 years he has fought for the improvement and justice especially in the scientific life. The prevailing potentates never and nowhere liked it. History teaches us that the struggle of brave men is not in vain and serves as an example for the next generations which eventually lead to a better world.
He is survived by his wife, Annabella, three grown sons and grandchildren.
We all miss György Horányi’s activity, fruitful scientific discussions and helpfulness.
This notice was contributed by György Inzelt