Solar Generator Powered By Nuclear Battery
Solar generators are not currently powered by diamond batteries, but diamond batteries are a new technology that could be used in a variety of applications, including space technologies and medical implants:
- How they workDiamond batteries use the radioactive decay of carbon-14 to generate low levels of power. The battery is made of a manufactured diamond that encases small amounts of carbon-14. The carbon-14 emits short-range radiation, which is absorbed by the diamond casing. The battery then captures fast-moving electrons from the diamond’s structure to create electricity.
- Potential applicationsDiamond batteries could be used in a variety of applications, including:
- Medical technology: Powering devices like pacemakers, hearing implants, and prosthetic eyes
- Extreme environments: Powering devices in space and the deep sea
- Tracking: Tagging cargo or spacecraft
- Future space missions: Making future missions faster than the Voyagers
- DevelopmentThe UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the University of Bristol led the development of the diamond battery. The battery was originally developed by a team of English researchers at the University of Bristol. The California-based company NDB is now commercializing the battery.
Scientists and engineers from the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the University of Bristol have successfully created the world’s first carbon-14 diamond battery. This new type of battery has the potential to power devices for thousands of years, making it an incredibly long-lasting energy source. The battery leverages the radioactive isotope, carbon-14, known for its use in radiocarbon dating, to produce a diamond battery. Several game-changing applications are possible. Bio-compatible diamond batteries can be used in medical devices like ocular implants, hearing aids, and pacemakers, minimising the need for replacements and distress to patients. Diamond batteries could also be used in extreme environments – both in space and on earth – where it is not practical to replace conventional batteries. The batteries could power active radio frequency (RF) tags where there is a need to identify and track devices either on earth or in space, such as spacecraft or payloads, for decades at a time, thus reducing costs and extending operational lifespan. “Diamond batteries offer a safe, sustainable way to provide continuous microwatt levels of power. They are an emerging technology that use a manufactured diamond to safely encase small amounts of carbon-14,” said Sarah Clark, Director of Tritium Fuel Cycle at UKAEA. The carbon-14 diamond battery works by using the radioactive decay of carbon-14, which has a half-life of 5,700 years, to generate low levels of power. It functions similarly to solar panels, which convert light into electricity, but instead of using light particles (photons), they capture fast-moving electrons from within the diamond structure. Professor Tom Scott, Professor in Materials at the University of Bristol, said: “Our micropower technology can support a whole range of important applications from space technologies and security devices through to medical implants. We’re excited to be able to explore all of these possibilities, working with partners in industry and research, over the next few years.” A team of scientists and engineers from both organisations worked together to build a plasma deposition rig, a specialised apparatus used for growing the diamond at UKAEA’s Culham Campus. This development is the result, in part, of UKAEA’s work on fusion energy. The expertise gained in fusion research is helping to accelerate innovation in related technologies.
