Diamond Battery Capable of Lasting Thousands of Years

Researchers at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the University of Bristol have developed a diamond battery powered by carbon-14 decay, capable of providing tiny amounts of power for thousands of years.

Scientists Develop Diamond Battery. Photo: tasnimnews.com

The battery, powered by carbon-14, a radioactive isotope with a half-life of approximately 5,700 years, is encased in synthetic diamond for safety.

This design ensures that no harmful radiation is released, making it suitable for a range of long-term applications.

"This is about UK innovation, and no one's ever done this before," said Professor Tom Scott, professor in materials at the University of Bristol.

"We can offer a technology where you never have to replace the battery because the battery will literally, on human timescales, last forever."

The resulting battery, which generates power at microwatt levels, has a diameter similar to a lithium-ion coin battery but is much thinner.

The decay of carbon-14 releases electrons, which are focused by the diamond shell and used to produce electricity.

To bring the concept to life, the team constructed a plasma deposition system at UKAEA's Culham Campus, where thin layers of synthetic diamond are applied around the carbon-14 core.

The team is now working to scale up the process for producing larger batteries.

Sarah Clark, director of Tritium Fuel Cycle at UKAEA, described the breakthrough as "a safe, sustainable way to provide continuous microwatt levels of power."

She added, "They are an emerging technology that uses a manufactured diamond to safely encase small amounts of carbon-14."

Potential applications for the diamond battery include powering devices in extreme environments such as satellites, deep-sea sensors, or remote monitoring systems, where replacing batteries is impractical.

The technology also holds promise for medical implants.

Devices like pacemakers or cochlear implants could run far longer than a human lifespan, eliminating the need for replacement procedures.

The European Space Agency supported some of the research, particularly for satellite applications.

The team now aims to advance the technology further, ensuring its scalability and practical use in real-world scenarios. (Tasnim News Agency)

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