Chinese scientists have announced the creation of a groundbreaking nuclear-powered battery that incorporates a photovoltaic cell, capable of generating electricity for hundreds of years. This innovation boasts an efficiency that significantly surpasses existing alternatives, according to a recent study published in the journal Nature.

Researchers aimed to harness alpha rays released by decaying radioactive isotopes, marking a shift from the common focus on beta radiation in nuclear battery development. With rising global demand for clean energy and long-lasting power sources, nuclear batteries have gained traction. Among these, alpha-radioisotopes are considered the most promising candidates for micronuclear batteries. They produce high decay energy between four and six mega electron volts (MeV), compared to the tens of kiloelectron volts (keV) from beta-radioisotope devices.

However, alpha particles have a very short penetration depth in solids, causing them to lose significant energy through a self-absorption effect. “This self-absorption significantly reduces the actual output power of tested alpha-radioisotope micronuclear batteries to levels far below theoretical expectations,” said Wang Shuao, the study’s lead author from Soochow University.

Wang, who has made notable advancements in nuclear waste treatment and safety protocols, collaborated with a team from the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology and Xiangtan University to design a nuclear battery that optimally utilizes alpha radiation. They integrated an "inbuilt energy converter," a polymer layer around the isotopes that converts radiation energy into light, similar to how a photovoltaic cell functions.

Using just 11 microcuries of the synthetic radioactive material 243Am, the researchers achieved visible radioluminescence from the alpha rays emitted during the isotope’s decay. Further testing revealed a power output of 11.88 nanowatts and a decay-to-light energy conversion efficiency of 3.43 percent.

The team stated that their photovoltaic nuclear battery efficiently converts radioactivity into electrical energy, offering an exceptionally long lifespan and operating independently of temperature changes. The experimental battery achieved a total power conversion efficiency of 0.889 percent, generating 139 microwatts per curie.

Validation through rigorous experimental and theoretical tests showed an 8,000-fold increase in energy conversion efficiency compared to traditional battery designs. The energy converter demonstrated exceptional stability, maintaining performance levels over 200 hours of continuous operation. Given the half-life of 243Am is several centuries, the battery could potentially last just as long.

China’s Science and Technology Daily recognized this development as a significant breakthrough in the nuclear battery sector. The achievement not only meets critical strategic needs for nuclear safety and sustainable energy in China but also presents a new method for utilizing nuclear waste resources.

The long half-lives and high-energy alpha decay of certain isotopes pose challenges in terms of radiotoxicity. However, these same properties provide advantages for energy generation, suggesting new possibilities for utilizing actinide nuclides beyond the nuclear fuel cycle.

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