Month: September 2024
Chinese scientists use americium to produce ultra-compact nuclear battery that could perhaps one day replace lithium batteries
Chinese researchers have unveiled micronuclear batteries that could one day power our tech
Scientists from across several Chinese institutions have unveiled a new ultra-compact nuclear battery that has the potential to replace the existing power sources used in everyday tech.
Powered by Americium, this new battery reportedly achieves an energy conversion efficiency up to 8,000 times greater than previous models, suggesting it could one day serve as a substitute for conventional lithium batteries.
These micronuclear power sources generate electricity by utilizing the radioactive decay of radioisotopes, producing power on a small scale typically measured in nanowatts or microwatts. Unlike chemical batteries, their lifespan depends on the half-life of the radioisotope used. Americium, specifically isotopes 241Am and 243Am, offers operational lifetimes extending over several decades, suggesting it could provide a long-term power solution.
Deep space exploration
Traditional micronuclear batteries have faced challenges with low energy efficiency due to severe self-adsorption during alpha decay. Addressing this issue, the Chinese research team has developed a novel architecture that incorporates 243Am into a luminescent lanthanide coordination polymer.
By combining this new design with a photovoltaic cell to convert autoluminescence into electricity, the radiophotovoltaic micronuclear battery achieves a power conversion efficiency of 0.889%, delivering 139 microwatts per curie. Although the power output remains tiny, the potential for a long-term, maintenance-free energy supply is considerable.
The resilience of this battery is noteworthy, as radioactive decay remains consistent regardless of environmental factors such as temperature or pressure. This stability ensures a reliable power source in challenging conditions.
The technology is still in its early stages and requires further development before widespread adoption is feasible. However, the team suggests initial applications for the americium-based nuclear battery could target small, remote devices, particularly in deep space exploration, where replacing conventional batteries is impractical.
The research findings were published in the journal Nature.
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Despite Predictions of Collapse for Ocean Current, Researchers Find a Key Component is ‘Remarkably Stable’
Past studies have suggested a major ocean current could collapse, quickly changing temperatures and climate patterns, reports the Washington Post.
“But scientists disagree on whether the the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is already slowing, and questions remain as to whether a variety of proxy measurements actually indicate a slowdown” — including a new analysis arguing that the current “has remained remarkably stable.”
One way to detect AMOC weakening is to monitor the strength of its components such as the Florida Current, which flows swiftly from the Gulf of Mexico into the North Atlantic. The current is a “major contributor” to the AMOC, the researchers write, and a slowdown of the current might indicate a slowdown of the AMOC. Scientists have been tracking its strength since the 1980s using a submarine cable that measures the volume of water it transports.
In the current study, researchers reconsider the data, correcting for a gradual shift in Earth’s magnetic field that they say affected the cable measurements. Previous assessments of the uncorrected data showed a slight slowing in the Florida Current. But when they corrected for the shift in Earth’s magnetic field, the researchers write, they found that the current “has remained remarkably stable” and not declined significantly over the past 40 years.
The researchers’ announcement acknowledges that “It is possible that the AMOC is changing without a corresponding change in the Florida Current…”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Past studies have suggested a major ocean current could collapse, quickly changing temperatures and climate patterns, reports the Washington Post.
“But scientists disagree on whether the the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is already slowing, and questions remain as to whether a variety of proxy measurements actually indicate a slowdown” — including a new analysis arguing that the current “has remained remarkably stable.”
One way to detect AMOC weakening is to monitor the strength of its components such as the Florida Current, which flows swiftly from the Gulf of Mexico into the North Atlantic. The current is a “major contributor” to the AMOC, the researchers write, and a slowdown of the current might indicate a slowdown of the AMOC. Scientists have been tracking its strength since the 1980s using a submarine cable that measures the volume of water it transports.
In the current study, researchers reconsider the data, correcting for a gradual shift in Earth’s magnetic field that they say affected the cable measurements. Previous assessments of the uncorrected data showed a slight slowing in the Florida Current. But when they corrected for the shift in Earth’s magnetic field, the researchers write, they found that the current “has remained remarkably stable” and not declined significantly over the past 40 years.
The researchers’ announcement acknowledges that “It is possible that the AMOC is changing without a corresponding change in the Florida Current…”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.