* Clayton Prize, Institute of Mechanical Engineers, 1957
* Alexander von Humboldt Senior US Scientist Award, University of Bonn, Germany, 1984
* Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, 1997
* Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, 1997
* Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1998
* International Prize for New Materials, American Physical Society, 1992
* Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, 1996
* Johannes Marcus Marci Award in Spectroscopy, 1998
* Centenary Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry, 1999
* Honorary Fellow, The Royal Society of New Zealand, 2001
* University of Bochum Research Prize, 2004
* National Historic Chemical Landmark, American Chemical Society, 2010
* Citation for Chemical Breakthrough Award, Division of History of Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 2015
* Fellow of the Optical Society of America