Researchers at the University of Bristol have engineered a revolutionary battery technology that could redefine how we power devices for centuries to come. This innovative battery, known as the radioactive diamond battery, is capable of lasting up to a thousand years, powered by nuclear waste.
The concept of radioactive diamond batteries was first introduced in 2016 by a dedicated team of physicists, chemists, and researchers at the University of Bristol. The battery operates as a betavoltaic device, meaning it harnesses energy from beta decay, a type of radioactive decay. This process involves an unstable nucleus emitting beta particles—high-speed electrons or positrons—to achieve a more stable ratio of protons to neutrons.
This emission of beta particles is key to generating electricity in the battery. The energy from beta decay is captured by semiconductors, which then produce an electric current. However, the efficiency of this energy transfer decreases with distance from the radioactive source, making the technology less efficient than conventional batteries.
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To overcome these efficiency challenges, the researchers turned to polycrystalline diamond (PCD). PCD is integral to the battery’s design, both as a radioactive source and as a semiconductor. The battery is produced through a process called chemical vapor deposition, a technique widely used to manufacture artificial diamonds. The researchers modified this process to create radioactive diamonds by using radioactive methane that contains the isotope Carbon-14, a byproduct found in irradiated reactor graphite blocks.
These radioactive diamonds are the heart of the battery. When exposed to beta radiation, they generate a consistent and long-lasting power supply. The nuclear waste inside the diamond continuously fuels the battery, enabling it to recharge itself over time with virtually no degradation. This means that, in theory, a single battery could last for over a thousand years without the need for replacement or recharging.
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While the technology is still in its prototype phase, the potential applications of these batteries are vast. However, the current version of the battery produces only a small amount of power, limiting its use to low-energy devices. This limitation means that, as of now, the battery is not suitable for common applications such as powering laptops or smartphones.
The commercialization of this technology is already underway. Arkenlight, a British company, is collaborating with the University of Bristol to bring the radioactive diamond battery to market. Their first product, a micro-battery designed for use in pacemakers and sensors, is expected to be released by the end of 2023. This could be a game-changer for medical devices, providing a reliable power source that could outlast the patient it serves.
“Can we power an electric vehicle? The answer is no,” says Morgan Boardman, Arkenlight’s CEO. To power something that energy hungry, he says, means “the mass of the battery would be significantly greater than the mass of the vehicle.” Instead, the company is looking at applications where it is either impossible or impractical to regularly change a battery, such as sensors in remote or hazardous locations at nuclear waste repositories or on satellites. Boardman also sees applications that are closer to home, like using the company’s nuclear batteries for pacemakers or wearables. He envisions a future in which people keep their batteries and swap out devices, rather than the other way around. “You’ll be replacing the fire alarm long before you replace the battery,” Boardman says.
Beyond medical applications, the potential uses of such long-lasting batteries are endless. They could revolutionize industries where battery replacement is costly or impractical, such as in remote sensing devices, satellites, and even in the exploration of other planets. The environmental impact of reducing the need for battery replacements could also be significant, as these batteries could help to minimize electronic waste.
