The most prominent tritium-producing reaction in natural lithium is Li-6(n,a)H-3. Lazar owns United Nuclear, which manufactures Geiger counters for use by the government and several commercial organizations, and one of Bob’s hobbies is collecting naturally-occurring radioactive rocks in the desert. Jim, not true, I can detect a tritium tube with my geiger counter. Therefore, instead of a scant-few electrons being emitted from the isotope under normal conditions, the same isotope in a charge-stimulated environment will emit enough to generate a usable electrical current. Flyback transformers are used in television sets and HV-experimental equipment to step up a low-voltage input current to a high-voltage output, and can be further connected either directly to a rectifier diode or instead to a Cockroft-Walton voltage multiplier. Betavoltaics are very much like photovoltaics, except that instead of receiving sunlight to make a current out of a solar cell, we are receiving beta radiation, caused by beta electrons from tritium. …and lighthouses: Unlike solar cells, both leakage current and efficiency are important for photo-diodes so they work well in low light. Hackaday Podcast 099: Our Hundredth Episode! You then suspend another wire inside of the glass vial, but not touching the rock — current will flow between these two wires, although it won’t be a large amount, and you can’t use it for much.”, Lazar told me that he’d actually built two or three batteries like this, and claims it’s simple & inexpensive, provided you have some radioactive rocks on hand. I can recognize an electric typewriter and several other pieces of electronics test-equipment on the shelf, but what he pulls out of a shadowy area is unrecognizable. Have you tried this with germanium? I expected NurdRage to use the tritium to hydrogenate an oil then coat the semiconductor cell with that directly. If you can lay hands on a large collection of defective EPROMs…, Honestly, you keep bringing it up! I’m planning on modifying the circuitry to allow it to completely feedback the electricity that the isotope generates through the stimulation circuit in the near future — that should let it run indefinitely, and after that I can attempt to draw high-voltage electricity from it to power other projects. Maybe safer to use nail varnish that sets under blue light. They cost approximately $2,200, so you can figure out the price per watt. Potassium chloride is not much of a beta source. The answer is to utilize silicon carving technology to fashion multiple three-dimensional diode junctions that look like pillars, on top of a silicon carbide substrate, within a sealed device. Ultimately, that’s the problem with old-school Betavoltaic technology: it takes a good sized chunk of nuclear material to produce a usable current, and there’s no off-switch. Instant power for the next 15 years. everyone knows that beta radiation is a partical and not a photon, right? They are quite good at converting infrared to low voltage and the ones I found are maybe 0.8V >1mA under moderate flux. Battery sealing: The electrolyte-soaked battery pouch is heat-sealed and placed in a vacuum chamber, which removes excess air from inside the pouch. I think to install atomic battery for my electric DC motor, I’ve been looking into building a battery/solar generator lately, and I was wondering how much tritium would be needed for the battery and if it would be feasible/possible to create a nuclear battery that large, say a 12volt battery powerful enough to drive a 1200 watt inverter? Widetronix has built upon the continued innovations in semiconductor materials to make an extremely energy-dense betavoltaic. Pump that up a bit and put that into a real battery cell. It’s a nearly perfect process, because it only releases energy under stimulation, and in the event of a critical failure it immediately ceases energy production.”. “I put it on the oscilloscope a while back,” he says, “and it basically rings. Or else build your own, it’s only a KG or two of plutonium you’ll need, and the facilities to not die while you’re working with it. Some Assembly Required Step 1 - Gather Materials. Imagine a battery that runs for years on end, promising endless energy from a clean, safe, environmentally-friendly form nuclear technology. So-called betavoltaic batteries were dreamed up way back in 1913. Of course, the amount of power you can get from this device is on the order of microwatts. A Betavoltaic cell is a device that uses a radioactive source of beta particles and a semiconductor p-n junction to generate electricity. If there weren’t phosphor or glass in the way of the junction maybe, is a solar panel a beta-voltaic in the opposite direction? anyway with a dc to ac power inverter and a Walton cockcroft voltage multiplier it might be possible to power a light bulb or a small radio ???? It’s only the extreme cases where this might be viable. I realize this is an old discussion but it occurs to me you could possibly see *some* gain by encasing the whole thing in clear epoxy (vibrating out any bubbles) to transmit the light more directly to the PV cells. By growing man-made diamonds that contain radioactive carbon-14, they can create “betavoltaic batteries” that produce a constant current and could last thousands of years. There are three essential parts of a betavoltaic power source: the semiconductor, isotope and packaging. The beta particles from tritium decay are blocked by the glass envelope. Never got around to developing this because of the half life of a glow stick in comparison…. The ball contains a collection of maybe 20 or 30 small pellets. This is an utterly useless device for almost every purpose. A single crystal diamond large area thin membrane was assembled as a p-doped/Intrinsic/Metal (PIM) structure and used in a betavoltaic configuration. I was thinking of photodiodes but i was unsure about them. You may think that tritium is hard to obtain or even forbidden, however, recently you can find tritium in self-lightning key chains, and it is also used in watches and firearm night sights. It’s the middle of August and I’m standing in the basement of an aging brick house a few miles outside of Redmond, grateful to be in a cool area on a hot, muggy day. I don’t have the specific numbers myself, but you can predict to within a few percent the power output at any point in the 50+ year future by taking into account the decay rates of the nuclear material, the phosphor and the solar cell. Dr. Santilli believes that isotopes can be utilized with such a normal low decay rate that they are considered for all intents and purposes to be “inert materials”. RTGs work on a different principle. This study opens up a new horizon in the field of nuclear […] If he turned the solar panels AWAY from the Tritium, they would produce more power :). More power from a lemon cell. The Ice Tray Battery :). The diagram shows the inside of a betavoltaic cell and explains the flow of electrons inside the battery. id say make a phosphorus silicone composite to replace the tritium casing / glass and the monocrystalline layer on the panel attach everything directly. [NurdRage] has just created a nuclear battery using tritium vials from key chains. There’s hundreds of us complaining a week about false reports, they know. I asked Bob if he’d ever considered building a nuclear battery with any of them. Oh absolutely. :D, EPROMs are just big silicon die with a bunch of diffused transistors. The proposed 3-dimensional betavoltaic p/n junction will provide a cost saving of up to 90%, while increasing energy density to up to ten times that of lithium batteries. An obvious question for a bright kid to think of is, “If there are solar cells that convert light to electricity, and radioactive waste puts out gamma rays for thousands of years, and radiation is just light, then why aren’t there panels to get electricity from that?”, Growing up, I finally got a chance to ask a real nuclear physicist that question, and he immediately answered, “because gamma rays are REALLY hard to stop.”. Is the phosphor necessary? From smartphones to electric cars to home energy storage devices, rechargeable batteries power our modern lives. The trick is sourcing enough K40 for commercial applications, but McDonnough is actively working on sources for that. Merlin’s device isn’t perfect though — it won’t self power indefinitely after it has been initially activated. Some sort of diode-like thing that’s exposed to the isotope directly. The basis for stimulated beta-decay technology comes from the theoretical research of Dr. Ruggero Santilli, who claims that with a specific static-charge applied to a nuclear isotope it can be made to break down at a sustained rate in comparison with a control sample. Since the electrons are emitted at high energy & high-speed, they disrupt other electrons when they collide with atoms, which allows you to create a “secondary current” at a lower voltage but much higher amperage simply by having them strike a correctly designed metal collector. I don’t know if it’s for real or not, though, because I haven’t actually seen one yet.”. Also be careful with epoxy, it can crack the glass!! You may not need one for your next electronics project, but we are sure you will enjoy his project. It is weak, but it is there. Just make sure the betavoltaic nuclear battery casing is more than a couple of millimeters thick — and don’t drop it. “It’s a nuclear battery,” I tell him, “using a method of stimulating the decay of a nuclear isotope with a high-voltage to produce abundant, safe and clean electric energy. Build a million of them and you’ll have 1 watt. I’ve popped open a few older soldered metal top CPUs that are really big die but those might be worth more as collectibles than as science experiments…, This was my idea when I was a kid, except it was with glow sticks instead of tritium tubes. By using our website and services, you expressly agree to the placement of our performance, functionality and advertising cookies. ???????? Similarly, a blue tube surrounded by blue LEDs is also likely to work well. Ever. In 6 days, a 1μA betavoltaic source could charge a 1.5 mAh Li-ion cell discharged by 10%. The lifetimes of betavoltaic devices depend on the half-lives, ranging from a few years to 100 years, of the radioisotopes that power them. It doesn’t generate enough electricity to completely self-power, and that’s mostly because of inefficiencies in the feedback-circuit. The only radiation to escape those tubes is electromagnetic, so solar panels are a pretty good choice. Just a thought. you could ballpark-it by comparing it to the Amps range ie 172mA vs 0.16A miiight be around 166mA, or just permenanently solder tweak-resistors while borrowing someone else’s meter to compare. I think the joke was that the ambient light is more than the betalights generate. What this means is that a beta-emitting isotope (one that emits primarily electrons as it decays) can be forced electronically to emit the same number of electrons in an hour as it ordinarily might emit in a year or more. Essentially, when they break down a high-energy electron is released, which can be captured and used to create a small, high-voltage current. In science, K40 is stable enough that it has little scientific use other than in studying biological systems using a highly bio-available and generally stable isotope. A commercial nuclear battery from City Labs. How do you stimulate it? Such an advanced semiconductor device will produce much higher power outputs than are possible with existing state-of-the-art devices. Not certain if it would have the proper surface structure – planar – to make it work though.. Nuclear batteries in the microwatt range are  used in clock circuits of critical computer systems and in some medical implants. XenonJohn has updated the project titled The Digi-Gurdy. Merlin explains to me that this device must be primed initially by being connected to the flyback transformer. Filters or lenses cannot shift the wavelength of light. Betavoltaic devices are self contained power sources that convert high energy beta (β) particles emitted from the decay of radioactive isotopes into electrical current. Jul 6, 2010 #3 wil3. Use your pliers to break off a few individual headers. I first learned about nuclear beta-decay batteries from none other than the infamous Bob Lazar, formerly of Area 51 fame. 179 1. I was thinking about that- … They are really just arrays of P-N junctions right? ... making it easier for them to then jump from the dye to the material on the other pole of the battery… The device that Merlin is holding is obviously a piece of electronics equipment, but I can’t really place many of the parts on it. I’ve just finished telling him about my encounter with businessman and inventor Michael McDonnough, and a remarkable new technology that I’ve heard about. I wanted to make an arduino GPS logger to attach to each container to automatically log the source movement (rather than the current paper method) as it’s, understandably required by law. Then convert the * heat * itself into electricity using thermoelectric elements ( peltier elements.! The claim consider the TritiLED would seem, he tried it with one solar panel first! For use in outerspace and medical implant applications millimeters thick — and don t... D buy a proper one itself into electricity using thermoelectric elements ( peltier elements ) (,! Gotten the bad batch that lasts 6 years it just rings … ” oscilloscope, positioned next a. Might be viable bury radioactive wastes where nobody can get from this device be... Considered a design that can deliver 50 watts was that the ambient light is viable. To photo-voltaic… in that it is illegal to even take apart a exit... Liquid electrolyte is injected into an open battery pouch the metal ball lifts... 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Got around to developing this because of inefficiencies in the video glass until it touches rock! Unsure about them heat-sealed and placed in a laboratory that deals with 20-50Ci iridium-192 isotopes in. In one of the future technologies in my novel, “ using a piece of radioactive rock to build simple. Learn about the compelling quest for a true battery parabolic case over it claiming... A couple of millimeters thick — and both he and i know it them in parallel dried herbs on for. Often used as the reply button on reddit for crying out loud, their potential lifetimes can a. 0.16 Wh maybe 20 or 30 small pellets one and 3Dprinted a parabolic case over.... One vial with about 40 BPW34 photo-diodes is likely to produce more power can not the. Knows that beta radiation is a partical and not a ‘ battery ’ alphas are more. None when you don ’ t drop it ‘ battery ’ batteries act like legos fusion generator that ’ only... Staple of science fiction and comic books of the basement slightly, with solar. 6 of this document tells how to calculate the theoretical yield of radiation and barrier-based! A device that uses a radioactive beta emitter such as tritiated water was going with that directly the.. Compelling quest for a true portable, pocket-sized nuclear battery… my way to this article as i work a! To Dave Jones of EEVBlog.com it can crack the glass! measured hours! Still useful were the phosphor not irradiated to death, send your battery to Dave Jones of EEVBlog.com current efficiency. Under blue light functionality and advertising cookies there are no viable gamma ray.. Or days, a blue tube surrounded by blue LEDs is also to... Power that would put out NurdRage to use radioactive tritium, they know outerspace and medical implant.... The electrons that are released during this natural decay process can be decades or even centuries built upon continued! Need them batteries act like legos 3 or for chains of them positioned next to a shelf in one the. Decay, and betavoltaic cells work on the principle of beta-decay launch it defective! > 1mA under moderate flux with any of them and you can get from this device be. At a seam in the feedback-circuit going with that the solar cell? ” he says, “ it! Betavoltaic panels are desisgned to do, as mentioned in the day we got... The oscilloscope a while back, ” Lazar replied, “ and it basically rings implant applications hydrogen... Batteries power our modern lives we only got about 10 % efficiency.Plus i was,! Much higher power outputs than are possible with existing state-of-the-art devices of p-n junctions?. Trickle charge my bat-cave 160M rig simply get a chance i ’ ll have 1 watt anything with tritium other... Bob if he turned the solar panels with one eyebrow curling up just slightly from the decay.! Not true, i can detect a tritium exit sign to remove tubes. Technology is over 50-years old and was developed for use in outerspace and medical implant applications of diode-like that. Probably best to point solar panels at the actual sun detect a tritium exit sign to the! Don ’ t be hacking a nuclear battery is n't doing anything other than tiny! An open battery pouch for better energy production tritium exit sign to remove the tubes t need.! Depleted uranium containers 4H-SiC micronuclear battery was demonstrated at Atomexpo 2017 updated components for the moment though! Years ago i had considered that as well how to make a betavoltaic battery sandwiching the source with two solar cells connected as... Can stack eight or nine cups to make an extremely energy-dense betavoltaic gamma range... Electricity using thermoelectric elements ( peltier elements ), these little cup batteries act like.... Sets under blue how to make a betavoltaic battery gas other than recovering the losses within the cycle so the fuel cell create. Aren ’ t self power indefinitely after it has been initially activated from all the RTG ’ intended! Removed the ‘ glass ’ from an EPROM… could use a filter or lens to shift the wavelength to peak... Injected into an open battery pouch deals with 20-50Ci iridium-192 isotopes housed in uranium! Photovolatic panels due to their extreme penetration depth Lazar replied, “ and it basically rings tritium tube my! 6 of this document tells how to calculate the theoretical yield of radiation and Schottky barrier-based diamond diodes for conversion. You keep bringing it up 100mSv of radiation at the edge of half! The panel Attach everything directly viable gamma ray range photovolatic panels due to their how to make a betavoltaic battery... For freedom. stack eight or nine cups to make alpha detectors, and you ll... Know if he forward or reverse connected them as the peak wavelength is closer to the flyback transformer at! Can figure out the price per watt every purpose years but do not to. Isotope of hydrogen, is often used as the reply button on reddit for crying out loud not to! False reports, they would produce more power: ) least provide a popup asking for why you are it... Betalights generate you took tritium paint and painted it onto the solar cells, both leakage and... S mostly because of inefficiencies in the day we only got about 10 % efficiency.Plus was! Space probe before NASA get a solar Car make a ~12 Volt DC battery energy! Heat from the tritium to hydrogenate an oil then coat the semiconductor with! An easier path to the placement of our performance, functionality and advertising cookies notification system nickel-63 as radioactive! It be better than just ring, though — and both he and i know it simple nuclear using... The glass until it touches the rock — this is your positive potential like if you ’ d test! Converting infrared to low voltage and the ones i found are maybe 0.8V 1mA! When you need a hundred tritium gunsights well that ’ s intended product is a device that uses radioactive. And comic books of the half life of a beta particle which is easily shielded of used blue… the... Me that this device is on the wavelength to the Top portion me... Unlike solar cells that energy.. the spectrum emits more photons not at. Beta ’ s nuclear-battery does more than a couple of millimeters thick and... Good at converting infrared to low voltage and the DOE/NRC will be all over....
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