Japan Succeeded in Production of Batteries Using Depleted Uranium
Researchers of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) developed the first “uranium rechargeable battery” using depleted uranium and first verified its charging and discharging properties.
About 16,000 tons of depleted uranium that is a byproduct of enrichment and other processes are stored in Japan. In order to utilize depleted uranium as a new resource, the concept of rechargeable batteries using uranium as an active material was proposed in the early 2000s. The need for rechargeable batteries has been increasing in recent years with an increase in the introduction of renewable energy sources. Power generation from solar, wind and other sources is affected by weather conditions and has the instability of fluctuating power generation. Output controls via energy storage devices such as rechargeable batteries are necessary to stabilize the power supply.
The battery utilizes uranium as an active material for the negative electrode and iron as the positive one. The single-cell voltage of the prototype uranium rechargeable battery is 1.3 volts, which is close to that of a common alkaline battery (1.5 volts). The battery was charged and discharged 10 times, and the performance of the battery was almost unchanged, indicating relatively stable cycling characteristics.
Based on verified characteristics of battery charging and discharging, the researches develop flow elements, including electrodes for increased capacity (redox flow batteries) and electrolyte circulating system (solution that dissolves the active materials).
Therefore, the JAEA will study if it is possible to increase the capacity by circulating the electrolyte and the concentration of uranium and iron, and what the optimal materials are for the electrodes and membranes that make up the storage battery.