The new nuclear battery can work for decades in space and underwater

A group of Chinese engineers has developed a miniature nuclear battery that produces electricity from the decay of the radioactive isotope americium, demonstrating an efficiency eight thousand times higher than previous technologies.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, scientists have tried to create long-lasting batteries that would work on the energy of radioactive decay, but their efficiency remained low. The main problem was the weak output power, which allowed to power only miniature devices. Now, a team led by Shuao Wang of Suzhou University has proposed a new solution: a battery that uses the alpha emission of americium to generate electricity.

Unlike traditional beta voltaic cells that produce a weak electric current, the new battery uses alpha particles, which carry more energy. Americium-241, which is the basis of the battery, decays, emitting alpha particles, the energy of which is converted into light radiation thanks to the polymer crystal. This light is then converted into electricity using a photoconverter.

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The battery has a compact size — just a few millimeters — and is reliably protected by a quartz shell, which makes it suitable for use under heavy loads. Tests showed the device to be stable for 200 hours, and it produced electricity with high efficiency even when using a minimal amount of radioactive material. Although the battery power is only 139 microwatts, it has enormous potential to power small devices in hard-to-reach environments where traditional energy sources are unavailable.

Americium-241 has a half-life of over 7,000 years, making these batteries extremely long-lasting . However, the actual service life is limited by the destruction of components under the influence of gamma radiation, which accompanies alpha decay.

Currently, the team is working on further improving the efficiency and safety of the battery. This discovery could be revolutionary for areas such as space exploration, deep-sea missions and remote monitoring systems where autonomous, reliable energy sources are needed.