Scientists develop battery that converts nuclear energy into electricity via light emission

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust Forward-looking: Researchers have developed a battery that converts nuclear energy into electricity using light emission. Led by a team from Ohio State University, the technology could revolutionize how we harness and repurpose nuclear waste. A study published in Optical Materials: X outlines how ambient gamma radiation can be harvested to generate electricity for microelectronics. The prototype battery, measuring just four cubic centimeters, achieves this by combining scintillator crystals with solar cells. The battery's design utilizes high-density scintillator crystals that emit light when exposed to radiation, which is then converted into electricity by solar cells. Researchers tested its effectiveness using two major fission products from spent nuclear fuel: cesium-137 and cobalt-60. Experiments at Ohio State's nuclear reactor laboratory yielded promising results. With cesium-137, ... Read full article.