Scientists recently developed a novel battery technology that can use atomic or nuclear waste to convert electricity.
Scientists at The Ohio State University have created a new type of battery that uses radiation from nuclear waste to produce electricity. The device works by combining special crystals, called scintillator crystals, with solar cells. The crystals give off light when they absorb radiation, and the solar cells turn that light into electricity. Essentially, it is a „nuclear photovoltaic battery that converts gamma rays into electricity.“ This could be useful for powering small devices in areas with high radiation.
The battery, which is about the size of a small cube, was tested using two radioactive materials: cesium-137 and cobalt-60. Cesium-137, a byproduct of nuclear energy, produced a small amount of power—288 nanowatts.
