Scientists Produce Carbon-14 Diamond Battery with Lifespan of Thousands of Years

Scientists and engineers from the University of Bristol and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) have successfully created a carbon-14 diamond battery. This new type of  battery has the potential to power devices for thousands of years, making it an incredibly long-lasting energy source. 

The carbon-14 diamond battery works by using the radioactive decay of carbon-14, which has a half-life of 5,700 years, to generate low levels of power. It functions similarly to solar panels, which convert light into electricity, but instead of using light particles (photons), they capture fast-moving electrons from within the diamond structure.

This technology can be used in space industry and in the sphere of safety and medicine. The batteries could power active radio frequency tags where there is a need to identify and track devices either on earth or in space for decades at a time, thus reducing costs and extending operational lifespan. Diamond batteries can be used in such medical devices like ocular implants, hearing aids and pacemakers, minimizing the need for replacements and distress to patients.

This development is partially the result of UKAEA efforts in the field of fusion energy. The experience gained in fusion research is helping to accelerate innovation in related technologies.

Reference to the Bristol University