LUBOMYR T. ROMANKIW (1931-2024)

BY LILI DELIGIANNI

LUBOMYR TARAS ROMANKIW, a pioneering electrochemical engineer, material scientist, and inventor, died on June 27, 2024, in New Jersey at the age of 93. Luby was born on April 17, 1931, in Zhovkva, Ukraine. His life journey from immigrant to world-renowned scientist and inventor is a testament to his resilience, innovation, and dedication to advancing technology.

Luby’s early life was marked by significant challenges. After World War II, he moved with his family from Germany to Canada, where he quickly adapted to his new environment. He demonstrated his innate brilliance by excelling in subjects such as math, physics, and chemistry, often trading tutoring sessions to improve his English skills. Earning his B.Sc. in chemical engineering from the University of Alberta in 1955, and driven by a desire to excel and innovate, he pursued further studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where in 1962 he obtained both his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in metallurgy and materials.

Romankiw’s career began in 1962 at IBM, where he quickly became a pivotal figure in the development of electrochemical processes. His groundbreaking work on thin-film magnetic heads revolutionized data storage technology. These heads became essential components for hard disk drives, enabling exponential increases in storage density — crucial for both mainframe servers and personal computers.

He is best known for his invention of magnetic thin-film heads, an innovation that has been not only a critical enabler for mainframe servers and personal computers but has also remained largely unchanged as hard disk drive storage density has been exponentially increasing for decades. By the mid-1960s, magnetic drum storage was approaching its limit, as the handmade and assembled copper-wired heads were becoming too large to be scaled down for higher areal density storage. He had three key inventions: the inductive transducer for writing, the magneto resistive sensor for reading, and the integrated thin-film heads with dual functionality. These inventions were accompanied by extensive fundamental studies on the electrodeposited magnetic thin-film materials as well as the invention of tools and processes for their manufacture.

One of his key process inventions was through-mask electroplating, which originally enabled the integration of photolithography with electroplating to define the copper coils and magnetic yoke in the three-dimensional structure of thin-film heads. This concept was later extended to incorporate X-ray lithography into the LIGA process, which has since been used in the fabrication of MEMS and NEMS (Micro- and Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems). 

In addition to device design and integration, another challenge at the time was the fabrication of magnetic materials with the desired permeability, moment, coercivity, and anisotropy, using a scalable manufacturing process. To address this, Luby introduced electrodeposition for the fabrication of microelectronic devices with the invention of the paddle cell. The reciprocating paddle movement enabled uniform, well-controlled agitation, allowing for the fabrication of permalloy, a superior soft magnetic alloy with 80 percent nickel and 20 percent iron, with precise compositional control across large areas. The paddle cell also allowed for the application of an external magnetic field during electrodeposition, which, when combined with a thermal treatment process in a magnetic field, defined the easy axis of the permalloy with respect to the yoke shape — ultimately enabling the proper functioning of thin-film heads.

Luby’s innovations extended beyond magnetic storage. He not only developed through-mask electroplating, which integrated photolithography with electroplating, but also invented the paddle cell for electrodeposition. These technologies played a critical role in advancing microelectronics and were foundational in the fabrication of MEMS devices.

Throughout his career, he held various significant positions at IBM, including his designation as an IBM Fellow in 1986. He managed numerous research projects, led the Electrochemical Technology Department, and was responsible for multiple key inventions and developments. His contributions to electrochemical processes and their application in manufacturing had a profound impact on the industry, establishing him as a highly respected figure in the field.

A dedicated member of the Electrochemical Society (ECS) since 1965, he made vast contributions by organizing symposia, editing volumes of proceedings, and fostering a global exchange of research ideas. He was named an ECS Fellow in 1990 — and became an honorary member as of 2003. His accolades include the ECS Electrodeposition Division Research Award in 1984, the Electrochemical Society Vittorio De Nora Award in 1994, the Society of Chemical Industry Perkin Gold Medal in 1993, and the IEEE Morris N. Liebmann Memorial Award in 1994. In 2012 he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and in 2014 he was elected an international member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Luby’s influence extended beyond his technical achievements. He was a passionate advocate for education and industry-academia collaboration. He brought a freshness and remarkable sense of openness to questioning why things were done a certain way. He identified knowledge gaps that deserved attention and encouraged the open exchange of fundamental knowledge, always fostering an environment where the best idea could win.

He was also distinguished as a global technical leader and mentor to research groups worldwide. Visiting dozens of universities, he talked about important problems as well as the underlying fundamentals, sparking interest and intellectual curiosity in hundreds of minds — especially young minds. Through his mentorship, he inspired an entire generation of scientists and engineers around the world, many of whom now contribute to the electrochemical field. His influence spans disciplines from atomic- to manufacturing-scale research and fields ranging from chemistry and materials science to mathematical modeling and process control during fabrication. He has also seeded subsequent contributions in other microelectronic, micro-mechanical, sensor, and photovoltaic system applications. His mentorship fostered a new generation of scientists and engineers, many of whom have made significant contributions to the field of electrodeposition and electrochemical engineering.

Outside his professional life, Luby was deeply committed to community service. He played a crucial role in Plast, the National Scout Organization of Ukraine, where he served as the chief scout, promoting leadership development among Ukrainian youth both in Ukraine and abroad. This was an extraordinary honor as he was only the third person to have been elected Ukrainian chief scout in the past 112 years. His love for young people and his dedication to instilling strong leadership, ethical, and moral values in them is evident and reflected in their great love and respect for him. In 2021, Luby was awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, a Ukrainian national honor recognizing distinguished service in science, culture, education, health, and humanitarian efforts. His lifelong dedication to his heritage and community was reflected in his deep involvement in these activities.

Luby’s legacy is one of exceptional creativity, leadership, and dedication. His innovative thinking transformed the field of electrochemical engineering, enabling significant advancements in data storage and microelectronics. He inspired colleagues and students alike with his enthusiasm, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to excellence. His contributions have left an indelible mark on the world, ensuring that his influence will be felt for generations to come.

Luby is survived by his daughter, Halyna, and a wide network of colleagues and mentees around the world who will continue to honor his legacy by advancing the fields he so passionately developed. His life’s work stands as a beacon of achievement, demonstrating what can be accomplished through innovation, perseverance, and a deep commitment to science, engineering, and humanity.