1  2  Next

Scientists Invent 30 Year Continuous Power Laptop Battery
Your next laptop could have a continuous power battery that lasts for 30 years without a single recharge thanks to work being funded by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. The breakthrough betavoltaic power cells are constructed from semiconductors and use radioisotopes as the energy source. As the radioactive material decays it emits beta particles that transform into electric power capable of fueling an electrical device like a laptop for years.

Although betavoltaic batteries sound Nuclear they’re not, they’re neither use fission/fusion or chemical processes to produce energy and so (do not produce any radioactive or hazardous waste). Betavoltaics generate power when an electron strikes a particular interface between two layers of material. The Process uses beta electron emissions that occur when a neutron decays into a proton which causes a forward bias in the semiconductor. This makes the betavoltaic cell a forward bias diode of sorts, similar in some respects to a photovoltaic (solar) cell. Electrons scatter out of their normal orbits in the semiconductor and into the circuit creating a usable electric current.

The profile of the batteries can be quite small and thin, a porous silicon material is used to collect the hydrogen isotope tritium which is generated in the process. The reaction is non-thermal which means laptops and other small devices like mobile phones will run much cooler than with traditional lithium-ion power batteries. The reason the battery lasts so long is that neutron beta-decay into protons is the world's most concentrated source of electricity, truly demonstrating Einstein’s theory E=MC2.

The best part about these cells are when they eventually run out of power they are totally inert and non-toxic, so environmentalists need not fear these high tech scientific wonder batteries. If all goes well plans are for these cells to reach store shelves in about 2 to 3 years.


Source: http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/nex ... -10.1.html

   

I wonder what specific isotope they'd use. But this does sound cool. I wonder if they could also do things like make AA batteries from the same principle. No more digging around for more batteries for the remote so you can change the channel when Judge Judy comes on...

   

How well would they work in cold wearhter and high stress enviroment such as on off road trucks and farm equipment?

   

Sounds too good to be true...

   

Already exists in expensive watches. Not too surprising to see it scaled up, but I wonder how much it costs?

   

If it sounds . . .

Betavoltaics. Trouble is, if you damage the sheilding . . .you glow for the rest of your life. About 4 days.

Also, matter that emits high energy electrons that bombards matter with high-energy electrons from tritum makes the matter decay. It will become inert, but the conversion efficency is piss-poor, meaning you'll have a 30 year heater for a laptop. A very hot one for the first 12 years.

Edit - whoops. Forgot to read the whole article. It emits beta radiation, which is stopped by the skin. But it's quite deadly if any material gets inside you.

   

Man, the Korean gamers will be dying in droves with a battery like that.

   

So it needs a warning: don't swallow, drink, eat, or snort any of the contains of the battery

   

Isn't that like any other battery?

Wonder what beta radiation does to a persons consciousness when it bombards the brain... could be an incredible way to trip out.

   

How much energy does it take to make?

   

I believe it is just mined out of the ground. So I guess the battery comes precharged.

   

So would it be practical to make a battery for and electric automobile?

   

probably mined out of....guess where?

saskatchewan

   

My next pacemaker is gonna have one of those 30 year babies.

   

That would be a good use for this technology. The first transisters and semiconductors were in hearing aids.

   

1  2  Next