Scientists have reached a significant breakthrough in energy storage following the development of a new technology. nuclear battery that can transform nuclear waste into electrical power.
A group in the U.S. has already conducted tests on this. next-generation battery With a prototype gadget able to collect sufficient nuclear radiation for powering microchips.
Nuclear batteries have been praised for their capability to produce electricity for many years without requiring any refueling or upkeep.
The innovative battery, developed by scientists at Ohio State University, functions by capturing ambient gamma radiation emitted from depleted nuclear fuel and transforming it into light using scintillator crystals. The generated light is subsequently turned into electrical power through the use of solar cells.
“By taking what’s viewed as waste and attempting to transform it into valuable resources, we’re essentially converting trash into treasures,” explained Raymond Cao, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Ohio State University, who headed the study.
The battery It does not include radioactive substances, so it is safe to handle; nonetheless, it is not intended for general public use. The researchers instead pictured these batteries being utilized in nuclear power systems designed for space and deep-sea explorations.
The technology is also undergoing development in China as part of the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan. Last year, Beijing-based Betavolt stated their intention to begin large-scale production of nuclear batteries for various commercial uses such as smartphones, drones, and medical equipment.
The functional prototype developed in Ohio, about the size of a sugar cube, can generate 1.5 microwatts of power; however, bigger models should be capable of producing substantially greater amounts of electricity.
"These represent groundbreaking outcomes regarding power yield," stated Ibrahim Oksuz, a research associate in mechanical and aerospace engineering at Ohio State.
This two-part procedure is still in its early phases, however, the subsequent phase entails producing higher wattage using scaled-up structures.
The idea behind nuclear batteries holds great promise. Although there’s significant potential for enhancements, I am confident that in the coming years, this method will establish a crucial niche for itself within the realms of energy generation and sensor technology.
A study The study about the nuclear battery, named 'Scintillator-based Nuclear Photovoltaic Batteries for Power Generation at Microwatt Levels', was published in the journal. Optical Materials: X .
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