The Elements of Innovation Discovered
The Elements of Innovation Discovered
Metal Tech News - December 6, 2024
University of Bristol and the UK Atomic Energy Authority scientists and engineers have created a carbon-14 diamond battery that can deliver power for millennia.
Carbon-14 diamond battery.
From delivering micropower to pacemakers that never miss a beat to space probes that explore our solar system and beyond, a diamond-based battery created by scientists and engineers from the University of Bristol and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) offers a new way to power devices where long-term reliability is essential, and charging is impractical.
"Diamond batteries offer a safe, sustainable way to provide continuous microwatt levels of power," said Sarah Clark, director of Tritium Fuel Cycle at UKAEA.
The batteries created by the U.K. scientists leverage the radioactive decay of carbon-14, an isotope with a half-life of 5,700 years and are best known for its use in radiocarbon dating to generate low levels of power. When encapsulated inside a diamond, this slow radioactive decay excites electrons to create electricity.
"There are no moving parts involved, no emissions generated, and no maintenance required, just direct electricity generation," Tom Scott, professor of materials at the University of Bristol, said during a previous discovery that diamonds generate electricity when they are close to a radioactive source.
University of Bristol scientists see this discovery as a solution to two dilemmas – storing radioactive materials safely inside man-made diamonds and generating clean electricity due to the unique interaction.
"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," Scott added.
To elevate the concept to practical applications, the University of Bristol and UK Atomic Energy Authority UKAEA created the world's first carbon-14 diamond battery.
Carbon-14 diamond battery.
The U.K. scientists believe their diamond batteries, which would still be running at 50% capacity after 5,730 years, could be a game changer for devices that require a dependable supply of micropower over long spans of time.
Delivering a lifetime of power to medical devices such as sight restoration implants, hearing aids, and pacemakers is one area where biocompatible diamond batteries could make a real impact.
The batteries could also provide a compact yet long-lasting supply of power to radio frequency identification (RFID) tags used to identify and track devices on Earth and in space.
Diamond battery-powered RFID tags could be particularly beneficial for tracking items that could be subjected to extreme environmental conditions, such as "black boxes" and other emergency data recording devices on earthbound transport, as well as keeping track of spacecraft and their payloads.
"We're excited to be able to explore all of these possibilities, working with partners in industry and research, over the next few years," said Scott.
With more than 16 years of covering mining, Shane is renowned for his insights and and in-depth analysis of mining, mineral exploration and technology metals.
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