The world's first carbon-14 diamond has been produced with the
potential to provide power for thousands of years.
Scientists and engineers from the UK Atomic Energy Authority
(UKAEA) and the University of Bristol have successfully created
the world's first carbon-14 diamond battery.
This new type of battery has the potential to power devices for
thousands of years, making it an incredibly long-lasting energy
source.
The battery leverages the radioactive isotope, carbon-14, known
for its use in radiocarbon dating, to produce a diamond battery.
Several game-changing applications are possible. Bio-compatible
diamond batteries can be used in medical devices like ocular
implants, hearing aids, and pacemakers, minimising the need for
replacements and distress to patients.
Diamond batteries could also be used in extreme environments –
both in space and on earth – where it is not practical to replace
conventional batteries. The batteries could power active radio
frequency (RF) tags where there is a need to identify and track
devices either on earth or in space, such as spacecraft or
payloads, for decades at a time, thus reducing costs and
extending operational lifespan.
“Diamond batteries offer a safe, sustainable way to provide
continuous microwatt levels of power. They are an emerging
technology that use a manufactured diamond to safely encase small
amounts of carbon-14,” said Sarah Clark, Director of Tritium Fuel
Cycle at UKAEA.
The carbon-14 diamond battery works by using the radioactive
decay of carbon-14, which has a half-life of 5,700 years, to
generate low levels of power. It functions similarly to solar
panels, which convert light into electricity, but instead of
using light particles (photons), they capture fast-moving
electrons from within the diamond structure.
Professor Tom Scott, Professor in Materials at the University of
Bristol, said: “Our micropower technology can support a whole
range of important applications from space technologies and
security devices through to medical implants. We're excited to be
able to explore all of these possibilities, working with
partners in industry and research, over the next few years.”
A team of scientists and engineers from both organisations worked
together to build a plasma deposition rig, a specialised
apparatus used for growing the diamond at UKAEA's Culham Campus.
This development is the result, in part, of UKAEA's work on
fusion energy.
The expertise gained in fusion research is helping to accelerate
innovation in related technologies.
