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Material Converts Radiation Into Electricity

Posted by kdawson on from the don't-irradiate-me-bro dept.

holy_calamity writes "Nuclear powered space probes like Pioneer have 'nuclear batteries' that (very inefficiently) convert heat from decaying isotopes into electricity. US researchers think a new material that converts radiation directly into power instead could make nuclear batteries 20 times more efficient. (Unfortunately they will likely not be user-replaceable.) The material consists of gold, carbon nanotubes, and lithium hydride."

4 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Carbon nanotubes by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Become affordable?

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    May the Maths Be with you!
  2. Re:I'm sorry by cosinezero · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is insightful?? What about the issue pointed out in the article?!? Satellites? Hey, let's recall Voyager just to replace it's batteries, then send it out for another 30 years.

  3. Re:I'm sorry by Osurak · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you think of the sun as a power source, it's not exactly user-replaceable either, but I'll be damned if its battery life isn't unbelievable.

  4. Re:I'm sorry by mo^ · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Devices based on the material could be small enough to power anything from interplanetary probes to aircraft and land vehicles, he adds.


    I think once we get to the level of space probes, "User Serviceable" is not particularly essential. Christ, I wont even change my car battery (due to laziness as much as anything).

    Were you envisaging using these in your remote or something?
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    bah!*@%!