Posted on 01/18/2024 1:07:17 PM PST by Jonty30
China's Betavolt New Energy Technology has unveiled a new modular nuclear battery that uses a combination of a nickel-63 (⁶³Ni) radioactive isotope and a 4th-generation diamond semiconductor and can power a device for 50 years.
Nuclear batteries may sound like something super-advanced, but they've been around in one form or another since the early 1950s. Most of these are what are called radio-thermal generators, which turn the heat from decaying radioactive elements into electricity by some sort of thermocouple or a Stirling engine.
In 2016, a new principle was introduced, which uses diamond layers doped with radioactive isotopes – in the case of the first attempt, carbon-14 (¹⁴C). The idea is to select an isotope that releases Beta (β⁻) particles, which are essentially high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons. When these are released, the diamond matrix acts as a semiconductor to generate an electric
(Excerpt) Read more at newatlas.com ...
Yes and if (and only) IF you properly fill out the registration form that comes with the Betavolt you get a lifetime guarantee that it will forever or until our company goes out of business.
A special fireproof area at Harbor Freight will be needed.
Spontaneous self-combustion is one thing.
Spontaneous self-critical-mass is a whole ‘nother level of bad. Give them more time, they’ll get there.
Because the actual amount of energy produced is miniscule. Yes, it can generate an electric current, but the usable wattage is tiny. And this idea is NOT new as of 2016. It has been around for a long time.
Caption....
Burning Love sung Elvis Presley
I feel my temperature rising
Help me, I’m flaming
I must be a hundred and nine
Burning, burning, burning
And nothing can cool me
I just might turn into smoke
But I feel fine
‘Cause your kisses lift me higher
You light my morning sky
With burning love
With burning love
I’m just a hunk, a hunk of burning love
Just a hunk, a hunk of burning love
Just a hunk, a hunk of burning love
Like a sweet song of a choir
And you light my morning sky
With burning love
“”the first attempt, carbon-14””
But.... But.... Isn’t Carbon evil??
Uses radioactive isotopes.
What could possibly go wrong?
Yes, it can generate an electric current
So can a potato.
AN IDEA-—NOT PROVEN-—COMPUTER DRAWN-—
So a terrorist buys a hundred batteries and makes his own dirty bomb. What could go wrong?
There was a documentary called ‘The Radium Girls’....
There were nuclear battery powered Cardiac pacemakers implanted in many patients. They often outlasted the patient. The company(s) tried to track the patients and retrieve the implants upon death. Concern was cremation causing radioactive contamination from burst batteries.
It’s 1950’s technology in new skins.
you can make one in your garage.
see here
In the late 1980’s I sold watches that had a tritium dial.
They took them off the market pretty quick. There are some built today, but they are generally pretty expensive.
They were a lot brighter than radium dial watches and did not have to be exposed to sunlight to glow.
It either works or it doesn’t. Put it on the market so we can test it.
When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Sure Fire Investment, LOLOL
The BV100 can produce 100 microwatts at 3 volts and measures 15 x 15 x 5 mm.
100 microvolts at 3 volts is 0.000033333333333333335 amps. Not much current here. You would have a big cost in diamond to produce anything worthwhile. Perhaps a spacecraft application would be one I can think of.
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