Share
As with most cutting-edge technology that’s initially restricted to usage within aerospace and military circles but eventually filters through to the general public, regular household and portable devices could soon be powered by nuclear batteries.
Hopefully this won\'t happen to an overheating notebook. Image: Department of Energy.
More pointedly, a team of researchers from the University of Missouri have successfully demonstrated a small nuclear cell capable of generating a long-lasting flow of energy from the charged particles emitted by decaying radioisotopes.
According to the university researchers, the battery technology is capable of holding around a million times more charge than conventional batteries and could potentially provide power for hundreds of years.
“People hear the word ‘nuclear’ and think of something very dangerous,” commented Dr. Jae Wan Kwon in a BBC report regarding any potential health and safety worries. “However, nuclear power source have already been safely powering a variety of devices, such as pacemakers, space satellites and underwater systems.”
While the power- and longevity-based benefits of nuclear batteries have seen such cells applied in mankind’s continuing exploration of space, up until now large physical sizing has restricted evolution where more regular and widespread utilisation is concerned.
The flat, square battery cell showcased by the team is presently a little bigger than a penny and incorporates a liquid semiconductor that enables the decay particles to pass without the semiconductor suffering any form of damage – something that affects the solid lattice semiconductors of existing nuclear batteries.
Want regular updates from The Tech Herald? Follow us on Twitter.
Interested in a more interactive TTH? Join our Facebook Group.
Interested in a more interactive TTH? Join our Facebook Group Want regular updates from The Tech Herald? Follow us on Twitter
Advertising
Comment on this Story