Consumer Nuclear Batteries?

[sabianq]

I was wondering if it is possible to build a battery from a radioactive source that emits Alpha particle radiation.

It seems to me that the energy in an Alpha Particle could be used to produce a current.

could you not just sandwich a particle source between some sort of photovoltaic diode to produce a current?

it seems that a battery of this type last a tiny bit longer than current chemical batteries.



just a thought.

[01101001]

Wikipedia: Atomic battery

Devices for converting natural radioactive decay directly into electricity have a long history. Nuclear battery technology began in 1913, when Henry Moseley first demonstrated the Beta Cell.The field received considerable research attention for applications requiring long-life power sources for space needs during the 50s and 60s. Over the years many types and methods have been developed. The scientific principles are well known, but modern nano-scale technology and new wide bandgap semiconductors have created new devices and interesting material properties not previously available.

Etc.

[Ronald Brak]

Do not taunt Happy Fun Consumer Nuclear Batteries.

[JustAFriend]

I worked at a big stock brokerage agency 15 years ago (in the media dept.) and one of the brokers who knew I was big into science came running into my office saying "he we got this client whos gonna produce D-cell-sized batteries filled with nuclear waste that'll run your whole house forever!!!"

I did a couple of equations for him and showed him that kind of power output was impossible. Unless you had Star Trek technology.

He looked at me and said, "You mean he LIED to us????"

Keep your checkbooks locked up when those brokers come cold-calling, kids...

[sabianq]

yes,
apparently, the technology is called Alphavoltaic,
http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/serv...cvips&gifs=yes

I was musing about it when a friend of mine who works for the EPA was complaining about the lack of plan to dispose of radioactive waste.
I wondered if it is possible to make a battery from radioactive waste,
the ionizing radiation like alpha particles carry a positive charge of about 5 mega electron volts. it seemed to me that one could build a "battery" that could utilize this mechanism.


I would agree with the fact that using a bunch of D cells to power a house would be far fetched, however, a 1.5 volt 1000 milliamp battery the size of a AA could probably work.

the only issue with having such a battery is two fold,
apparently, the radiation causes the breakdown of the material that it is built of over time which is really not a problem economically as the manufactures of the batteries will have a product that will have an end of life and will eventually need to be replaced generating revenue.


However, if the issue with the material breakdown is solved, then the battery could theoretically last until the radioactive material is depleted which would be a very long time, (fantastic for the environment, bad for the manufactures as then once everyone has all the batteries they need, no more will be sold as they would "never" really run out, and that would be bad for business.

<sigh>

[PraedSt]

bad for the manufactures as then once everyone has all the batteries they need, no more will be sold as they would "never" really run out, and that would be bad for business.

This might not be such a deal breaker sabianq. Depends on a lot of factors. But thanks for this thread, interesting...I had forgotten about nuclear batteries.