Science and Technology intertwine once again to create energy for the future. Scientists and engineers have tried to make use of energy of any source that can make the life of a particular object. They are getting one step closer with the Nuclear Batteries. Yes, it does sound daunting with the word “Nuclear” in it, but researchers claim that it is quite safe. How it the Nuclear Battery works is as the radioactive substance decay, it releases Beta (charged) particles and when collected properly, it can create electricity!
The size of the Nuclear Battery compared to a Penny!
The Nuclear Battery is still being trialed, having made a small unit sample the size slightly larger than a penny. A team at the University of Missouri, lead by Jae Wan Kwon, is trying to have the battery even smaller, yet completely efficient, to be used with devices categorized in MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) or NEMS (nano- electromechanical systems). These are basically technology that combines computers with tiny mechanical devices such as sensors, valves, gears, mirrors, and actuators embedded in semiconductor chips.
Nuclear Battery have been used in various technologies, including space satellites, underwater systems, and even pacemakers! I know what some of you are thinking, how can pacemakers have Nuclear Batteries if the radioactivity is extremely severe for the human body? First thing that pops out when one hears nuclear is the two elements of Uranium and Plutonium. First, pacemakers with radioactivity weren’t successful and discontinued in the late 80s. Second, even though radioactivity was used in mostly space devices (such as Plutonium-238, which is highly radioactive), strong radioactive elements weren’t used. Let’s get a bit nerdy and enter a realm of chemistry to understand how small devices emit radioactivity
Nickel-63 is a radioactive element. Considering that this specific radioactive is weak and quite abundant, it is cheap to get and use. It has a half-life of 92 years (that’s less than 46 years of life) and emits beta particles with no problem. As it decays and creates electrons to generate electricity, it becomes Copper-63, a stable element, which is safe. There are other elements, such as Tritium, that can be used, which has a half-life of roughly 12 years and it less harmful than Nickel.
To get back on topic, Nuclear Batteries uses the isotopes of the radioactive element to power devices for a long period of time. The only problem of this is that to use these isotopes, the conductor or semiconductor had to be built large or the isotopes would suffer damage. Professor Jae Wan Kwon created a liquid solution that will enable a small device as the battery to transfer the isotopes without causing any damage, making them safe under normal use.
Now, using this to power future technology would be a great improvement, but a risky one at that. Now all technology today uses some sort of radioactivity when you use it (if you didn’t, well now you know!), and having a Nuclear Battery in something as an iphone is like walking with a mini nuke; atomic bomb, in your possession! Or I may be exaggerating. But the big question is, will this be successful or kill us in the long run?
