British researchers recently presented a new development that seeks to reduce the world's nuclear waste problem: small artificial diamonds that can provide energy for electrical devices for thousands of years
By Lior Mammon, Angle - news agency for science and the environment
What do you think of when you hear the words "diamonds forever"? Ostensibly this is a sentence that expresses a declaration of romantic love embodied in the image of a polished stone, in practice it was Brilliant copywriting slogan which was intended to get rid of a considerable amount of diamonds mined in Africa in the XNUMXs. Also the diamond batteries they developed Experts from the University of Bristol They are a creative way to get rid of material that accumulates in the depths of the earth, but in this case it seems that the purpose is much more positive than promoting sales of beautiful stones, mainly because the material that they want to get rid of is buried radioactive waste.
Electricity production using nuclear reactors is considered Relatively environmentally friendly, mainly because the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in the process is relatively low compared to other forms of electricity generation, such as burning carbon, natural gas or fuel. However, it is the nuclear waste, a byproduct of processes that take place in the reactor, that makes the fission process harmful to the environment and even dangerous.
The current prevailing solution to the problem of nuclear waste is to bury it underground in order to isolate it from the environment until it ceases to pose a threat to security and public health, when its radioactivity has faded. The decay process may last thousands of years, and sometimes even millions of years (depending on the type of radioactive material). Landfill does keep the waste out of sight, but the danger it poses remains even when the waste is below the surface. A leak as a result of corrosion, earthquakes, a plane crash or an act of terrorism is a real danger, which may cause serious environmental pollution. In addition, the radioactive waste produces a lot of heat, and there is uncertainty regarding the effect of heat and radiation on their underground environment. The problem is exacerbated in view of the constant increase in the amount of waste produced, the large volume it occupies, the lack of accessible landfills, and the lack of a real alternative plan to deal with the problem in most countries of the world.
Artificial carbon
The group of researchers from the Cabot Institute at the University of Bristol recently presented an original way to turn nuclear waste into a new kind of energy source. How It Works? The radioactive uranium, the fuel of the nuclear reactors, is kept inside a core made of graphite plates. The function of the graphite plates is to slow down the fast movement of the neutrons, so that the chain of nuclear reactions can occur properly. In this process, some of the carbon in the graphite absorbs neutrons and becomes the radioactive form of carbon - C14. The research group found that most of the radioactive carbon is concentrated on the outside of the graphite plates, so it can be effectively removed by heating the plates and turning the carbon 14 into its gaseous form. The heating and removal of the radioactive graphite reduces the radioactivity of the graphite panels so that the degree of danger they pose to humans and the environment is significantly reduced.
The innovation is that through compression at low pressure and high temperatures it is possible to create an artificial carbon "diamond" from the gaseous carbon, which is charged with energy by its very proximity to a radioactive source. These diamonds are able to produce a low electric current by themselves. For the sake of full disclosure, the similarity between the diamond batteries and diamonds in their natural form is expressed in the bonds between the carbon atoms, and not in the polished form known from jewelry stores. And in case you were wondering if this whole story is safe, the diamond is covered with a protective layer of non-radioactive diamond, which prevents radiation from leaking into the environment. According to the researchers, the diamond is dangerous to its environment "much like a banana".
Low energy consumption
Besides the fact that the electric current produced requires no moving parts or regular maintenance, and has no harmful emissions, the main advantage of the battery is its very long life span. Since the decay time of carbon-14 is extremely long, the battery is almost "eternal", at least in human terms. According to the researchers, the battery will use up half of its initial power within 5,730 years. The diamond battery will indeed last a long time after the Energizer rabbit has passed away, but unfortunately, its energy supply per day is significantly lower than a normal battery, so its use at this stage will only be possible in small devices, or those with low energy consumption. To illustrate, a standard AA battery provides 1400 joules of energy per day, while the diamond battery is only capable of producing 15 joules per day. It is possible that in the future they will be able to concentrate the radioactive carbon more, thus improving the battery's power.
Although the diamond batteries will not eliminate the radioactive waste storage problem completely, because they are made only from radioactive graphite plates and not from other types of waste such as spent nuclear fuel. But despite this, claims Dr. Daniel Mader, a scientific consultant in the field of renewable energy, this is a brilliant solution that may significantly reduce the scope of the problem. As of 2010, the volume of graphite panels in the world is approximately 250 thousand tons, and finding a safe place to store them, which is not near settlements or in a geologically active area, is not a simple task.
A video from the University of Bristol presenting the research:
Pacemaker or spacecraft?
So what would you do with the most durable battery around? Making sure you never have to knock on the remote to change the channel? That your smartphone will work forever? Or maybe the air conditioner won't stay stuck at 16 degrees Celsius when it's actually already January? The research group aimed for slightly different uses. The research included proposals to use the new battery in cases where replacing the battery in its conventional form is complicated, such as in satellites and space shuttles, or in cases where a particularly long battery life is required, for example in pacemakers.
The research group anticipates that such a battery will have many additional uses and is even addressed to the public To get original offers on Twitter.
