A team of scientists has revealed the development of a prototype of a small nuclear battery capable of powering devices for several decades without the need for recharging.
اضافة اعلان
According to a report by The Independent, "Most portable devices, such as smartphones, rely on lithium-ion batteries, which last from hours to days before requiring a recharge. Over time, these batteries degrade, and lithium mining poses a significant environmental burden due to its high energy and water consumption. As a result, scientists are working on developing safe nuclear alternatives that don’t require frequent charging."
According to Su Il In, the lead researcher from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea, the performance of lithium-ion batteries has nearly reached its maximum limits, prompting scientists to seek alternative energy sources.
Nuclear batteries rely on high-energy particles emitted by safe radioactive materials, where their radiation can be contained using special materials.
In a study presented at the American Chemical Society meeting, the team introduced a prototype battery powered by carbon-14, a radioactive isotope that only produces beta radiation, making it safer than other radioactive sources.
Additionally, carbon-14 is easily available, as it is extracted as a byproduct from nuclear power plants.
This battery operates by having the electrons emitted from the radioactive carbon collide with a semiconductor made from titanium dioxide, which results in a continuous flow of electrons through an external circuit, thereby generating electricity.
Due to the slow decay rate of the radioactive carbon, this battery is theoretically expected to last a lifetime.
Dr. Su Il believes that this battery could be especially useful in medical devices.
He said, "We can now integrate safe nuclear power into small devices the size of a finger, opening the door to promising applications, especially in the medical field."
