The quality of battery is one of the criteria that a smart-phone buyer usually examines before he goes for the phone. The reason is not far to seek – with innumerable apps, an average battery does not usually last for the whole day. Your wait for more and more powerful battery will hopefully end with a new technology, which the scientists have developed recently. The technology uses nuclear waste to generate clean electricity. Thus, the development would not only solve issues in relation to nuclear waste, but would also generate clean electricity that would satisfy the energy needs of varied equipment and products.
Researchers from the University of Bristol have grown a man-made diamond that could generate a small electrical current when placed in a radioactive field. The diamond can produce a charge simply by placing it in close proximity to a radioactive source. Tom Scott, Professor in Interface Analysis Centre of the university explains: “There are no moving parts involved, no emissions generated and no maintenance required, just direct electricity generation.“ He further elucidates: “By encapsulating radioactive material inside diamonds, we turn a long-term problem of nuclear waste into a nuclear-powered battery and a long-term supply of clean energy.“ The team has demonstrated a prototype `diamond battery' using Nickel-63 as the radiation source.
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The researchers are now working to significantly improve efficiency by utilising carbon-14, a radioactive version of carbon, which is generated in graphite blocks used to moderate the reaction in nuclear power plants. The experiments have shown that the radioactive carbon-14 is concentrated at the surface of these blocks, making it possible to process it to remove the majority of the radioactive material. The extracted carbon-14 is then incorporated into a diamond to produce a nuclear-powered battery.
Prof Neil Fox from the School of Chemistry says: “Carbon-14 was chosen as a source material because it emits a short-range radiation, which is quickly absorbed by any solid material.” He further elaborates: “This would make it dangerous to ingest or touch with your naked skin, but safely held within diamond, no short-range radiation can escape.” Despite their low-power, relative to current battery technologies, the life-time of these diamond batteries could revolutionise the powering of devices over long timescales. Using carbon-14 the battery would take 5,730 years to reach 50% power, which is about as long as human civilisation has existed.
Prof Neil Fox from the School of Chemistry says: “Carbon-14 was chosen as a source material because it emits a short-range radiation, which is quickly absorbed by any solid material.” He further elaborates: “This would make it dangerous to ingest or touch with your naked skin, but safely held within diamond, no short-range radiation can escape.” Despite their low-power, relative to current battery technologies, the life-time of these diamond batteries could revolutionise the powering of devices over long timescales. Using carbon-14 the battery would take 5,730 years to reach 50% power, which is about as long as human civilisation has existed.
Compiler : Syed Zafar Ahmad
Designation: Executive Editor & Compiler
Bio: A freelancer with a flair for experimenting with innovative technology and electronic gadgets that could enrich the life of a modern common man, and a consultant in issues touching every-day life of a computer suave professional.
Bio: A freelancer with a flair for experimenting with innovative technology and electronic gadgets that could enrich the life of a modern common man, and a consultant in issues touching every-day life of a computer suave professional.
