A research team in the UK has created a carbon-14 diamond battery that can safely provide high durability power for thousands of years.
Scientists from the University of Bristol and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) have successfully developed the world’s first carbon-14 diamond battery. This revolutionary power source has the potential to generate electricity to power devices for thousands of years, offering a sustainable and efficient solution for a wide range of diverse applications, Interesting Engineering reported on December 5.
Sample of a carbon-14 diamond battery. (Photo: University of Bristol).
The carbon-14 diamond battery harnesses the radioactive decay of carbon-14, a radioactive isotope commonly used in dating artifacts, to produce electricity. Encased in diamond, one of the hardest materials available, the new battery design will safely capture radiation to generate power.
Carbon-14 emits short-range radiation, which is absorbed by the diamond casing, ensuring safety while generating a low amount of electricity. This battery operates similarly to photovoltaic cells, but instead of converting light into electricity, it utilizes fast-moving electrons from radioactive decay. As a result, it provides a long-lasting and reliable power source with impressive longevity. Due to carbon-14’s half-life of 5,700 years, the battery retains half of its power even after thousands of years.
Sarah Clark, director of the Tritium Fuel Cycle at UKAEA, emphasized the sustainability and safety of the invention. “The diamond battery offers a safe and sustainable way to provide continuous power at the microwatt level. They are emerging technology that uses artificial diamonds to encase a small amount of carbon-14″, Clark stated.
One of the most promising features of the carbon-14 diamond battery is its versatility. This type of battery can be used in a wide range of environments and devices where conventional power sources are impractical. Biocompatible diamond batteries could revolutionize the medical field by providing power for implantable devices such as pacemakers, hearing aids, and eye-related devices. Unlike traditional batteries that require frequent replacements, diamond batteries can operate for decades, reducing the discomfort and surgical risks for patients.
Additionally, the new battery design is ideal for missions in space and remote locations on Earth. They can power spacecraft, satellites, and even radio frequency tracking tags, reducing costs and extending operational lifetimes.
| The carbon-14 used in the battery is extracted from graphite blocks, a byproduct of nuclear fission reactors. By utilizing this material, the technology helps reduce radioactive waste while generating useful energy. The UK possesses nearly 95,000 tons of graphite blocks. The manufacturing process involves using a plasma attachment rig, specialized equipment developed collaboratively by the University of Bristol and UKAEA to create diamond structures. This method not only enables the use of radioactive waste but also alleviates costs and challenges associated with safe storage. |
