New battery has life so long you may never have to recharge

Summary

Image by ThisIsEngineering via PexelsA research group at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), led by Professor Su-Il In, has developed a new type of nuclear battery called a perovskite betavoltaic cell (PBC), which could power small devices for decades without the need for recharging. The team used carbon-14—an unstable form of carbon known as radiocarbon—and combined it with perovskite materials to create a hybrid battery with improved energy conversion and long-term stability. The new battery uses radioactive carbon-14 nanoparticles and quantum dots (14CNP/CQD) as electrodes. These were embedded into the device along with a perovskite film treated with dual chlorine-based additives: methylammonium chloride (MACl) and cesium chloride (CsCl). These additives helped strengthen the crystal structure of the perovskite, making it more stable and better at moving electric charges. Compared to older designs, the team recorded a roughly 56,000-fold improvement in electron mobility and a maximum continuous operation of nine hours during testing. “This study represents the first successful integration of perovskite into a betavoltaic cell, pioneering perovskite betavoltaic cells,” the researchers stated. Betavoltaic cells work by turning beta particles—emitted during radioactive decay—into electricity. Since beta rays can’t penetrate human skin and can be blocked by materials like aluminum, the technology is considered biologically safe. Professor In explained, “I decided to use a radioactive isotope of carbon because it generates only beta rays.” Carbon-14 is also a by-product from nuclear reactors, making it cheap, widely available, and recyclable. Because it breaks down very slowly, it could power devices for hundreds or even thousands of years. To raise energy conversion efficiency—the measure of how well a battery turns electrons into usable power—the team turned to a titanium dioxide semiconductor, often found in solar cells, and enhanced it...