Nuclear batteries do not need to be recharged

Instead of letting spent nuclear fuel sit idle, researchers at Ohio State University (OSU, USA) have developed a new method to turn this waste into a battery that never needs to be recharged.

Nuclear batteries open up many practical applications in the future

The team's method relies on the use of photoluminescent crystals - a material that absorbs gamma radiation and emits light. When combined with solar cells, the system can capture the emitted light and convert it into electricity. Unlike conventional batteries, the nuclear waste battery will continue to produce electricity as long as the radioactive material is active, which can last for decades.

The system currently produces only microwatts of power, but even on a small scale it could be used for low-power applications such as microsensors and radiation monitoring devices. In tests, the team used two types of radioactive materials: Cesium-137 (a common fission product) which produced 288 nanowatts of power, and Cobalt-60 (used in medical radiation treatments) which produced 1.5 microwatts.

Although current yields are low, researchers believe that scaling up the technology, such as using larger light-emitting crystals, could increase power to watt levels... At that point, nuclear batteries would become viable for larger applications.

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Benefits of nuclear battery technology

A battery that can operate for decades without maintenance would be beneficial, especially in areas where it is difficult to change power sources. Such batteries could support future deep space missions where long-term power is critical. They could also be used in underwater probes and in harsh environments where recharging is difficult.

As nuclear power is expected to continue to expand, finding ways to reuse its byproducts is more urgent than ever. If perfected, this technology could provide a practical way to generate clean, sustainable energy while minimizing the need for hazardous waste storage.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/pin-hat-nhan-khong-can-phai-sac-lai-185250318095201648.htm