London - ALsharqiya, April 2: A team of scientists has developed a prototype of a small, radioactive carbon-based nuclear battery capable of powering devices for decades—and possibly the user's lifetime—without needing to be recharged. This technology could open up new possibilities in the design of medical devices, such as pacemakers, eliminating the need for frequent surgical replacements. Currently, most portable devices, such as smartphones, rely on lithium-ion batteries, which last for hours to days before needing to be recharged. These batteries deteriorate over time, and lithium mining poses a significant environmental burden due to its high energy and water consumption. Therefore, scientists are seeking to develop safe nuclear alternatives that do not require frequent charging.
Seo Il-in, lead researcher from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea, explained that the performance of lithium-ion batteries has almost reached its limits, prompting scientists to search for alternative energy sources. Nuclear batteries rely on high-energy particles emitted by safe radioactive materials, whose radiation can be contained by special materials.
Scientists have indicated that beta-voltaic batteries, which operate on beta radiation—high-speed electrons—are a safe option, as these radiations can be contained within a thin layer of aluminum. In the study, presented at the American Chemical Society meeting, the team demonstrated a prototype battery powered by carbon-14, a radioactive isotope that produces only beta radiation, making it safer than other radioactive sources. Carbon-14 is also readily available, being extracted as a byproduct of nuclear power plants.
This battery operates by colliding electrons emitted by the radioactive carbon with a titanium dioxide semiconductor, resulting in a continuous flow of electrons through an external electrical circuit, thus generating electricity. Thanks to the slow decay rate of the radioactive carbon, this battery is expected to theoretically last a lifetime. Dr. So Il emphasized that this battery could be particularly useful in medical devices, saying, "We can now integrate safe nuclear power into devices as small as a fingertip, opening the door to promising applications, particularly in the medical field."
