Nuclear energy in everything?
When the production of nuclear energy has become a practical technology, it provided hope that the energy that has so far been used only to create world bombs could also save the same civilization from the exhaustion of resources.
Because climate change is a growing query Nuclear energy passes through the RenaissanceAs available, scalable and low -carbon energy sources that could bridge the UTIL RENEWABLES & BATTERIES gap are ready to replace fossil fuels. And new nuclear power plant designs can come cheaper, safer and more flexible as we explain in ‘SMR update (small modular reactor) – still the future of nuclear energy“AND”4. Generation of nuclear energy: cheaper, cleaner, safer“
However, these large power plants are not the way sci -fi writers initially called nuclear energy. The leading thinkers like Isaac Asimov were much more ambitious and imagined miniaturized nuclear forces generators that could fit in trains, cars and even smaller devices, which is an idea to fill or supplement them essentially obsolete.
One step in this direction is performed with a presentation of nuclear batteries small enough to power small electronic devices. And that would do it safely.
This research work was introduced at the Spring Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) HiProfessor at Daeg Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (South Korea), called “Battery of the next generation: highly efficient and stable betavoltaic cell sensitized to C14 dyes”.
Source: Asia Research News
Battery limitation
Most electronic devices are now limited by their battery capacity, usually using lithium-ion technology. This applies to smartphones, drones, sensors, etc.
In addition, mining of lithium is an environmentally destructive process and lithium could become a polluting substance in the future.
Thus, scientists have long considered an alternative to using radioactive decay, processes that cover hundreds or even tens of thousands of years, for a better alternative that would not require any re -loading of the device.
As such devices, however, would be radioactive, they would have to be the strictest safety standards.
Beta-radioactivity
There are many different forms of radioactivity. Of these, Gamma Decay is the most danger because it radiates a very stronger gamma rays that can cause cancer and other damage.
Source: Chemist
Alpha and beta Decays are a great danger and radioactive emissions can be stopped with a layer of aluminum or even a paper.
Source: Western Oregon University
Collecting the right isotope
Which radioactive activity occurs depends on the radioactive element and its isotopes, so some energy sources are much safer than others. For this reason, materials like uranium would not be a good match for small nuclear batteries.
However, carbon-14, a naturally occurring carbon isotope, often used in the determination of a technical date, would be a good match.
The extra advantage is that the carbon-14 is produced by an existing nuclear power fleet of the same way, which is an inspiration, easily accessible and easily recycled. And finally,
“I decided to use a radioactive isotope of carbon because it only generates beta rays. And because radiocarbon is very slowly degraded, it could theoretically withstand the radiocarbon battery for millennia.”
PR. SUI In-Professor on Daeg Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology
Betavoltaic technology
Beta Beta’s lever decline for energy production is not a new concept and is known as betavoltaic, with a beta side replacing photons used in classic photovoltaics.
In Betavoltaics, the electron Instatead photon is hit by a semiconductor, resulting in electricity production.
This semiconductor material is a key part because it is effective to determine the overall speed of energy efficiency. So far, betavoltaic semiconductors have been very low efficiency or too fragile to endure up to nuclear fuel.
Titanium oxide semiconductor
Prof. In and his team used the material commonly used in solar cells, titanium oxide and added Ruthenia -based dye. To make the binding between the dye and the semiconductor sufficiently, they used citric acid.
Ruthenium dye, when beta is hit by a particle (powerful electrorone), creates a cascade by reaction of electron transmission, called electron avalanche. The titanium dioxide then collects generated electrons and turns them into usable electricity.
Treatment of both electrodes
Scientists have found that you could radically increase the efficiency of the process by placing a ruthi dye on a cathode and an anode of nuclear batteries.
Compared to previous design with radiocarbon, only on cathode has led to a much high transformation of energy efficiency, Goong from 0.48% to 2.86%.
Application
Since this system is likely to be extensive than the usual battery for now, it will find the first applications that we do not replace or reload the energy source, are the most useful.
For example, pacemakers and other medical implants could be powered throughout their lives with such beta-voltaic batteries.
Sensors in sensitive or hostile or hostile, such as nuclear reactors, factories, deep sea or deep space, could also benefit from this concept.
Further improvement
This technology and impressive increase in efficiency are connected to further research that wants to use a radioactive break -up for energy production without a nuclear reactor. For the exam, We recently discussed the idea of using nuclear mass was to make another type of nuclear battery.
Prof. In indicating that further efforts to optimize the shape of beta-paletal emitters and the development of more efficient beta-play absorbers could increase battery performance and increase energy production.
Overall, this technology is likely to improve because our understanding of semiconductors and rare metals is proceeding.
Investing in nuclear
Cameco – Westinghouse Electric Company
Cameco Corporation (CCJ -3,67%)
In 2022, Cameco decided to obtain 49% control in Westinghouse, leading nuclear power plant builders in the USTogether with the huge investment company Brookfield (51% control).
The company has massive production of renewable/low carbon energy in the form of 19b Brookfield Renewable Partners (Bep -0,49%). Brookfield Corporation as a whole is a massive assembly company with almost trillion dollars.
This means that Westinghouse is now accessing access to a very deep capital fund, which is often a problem for nuclear reactors, as new projects require years of investment before income.
While longer has taken place as soon as you build, the new reactor generates revenue for Westinghouse from 6th A year after the design and engineering studies and it will continue for the entity of the construction project for more 10 years.
Source: Cama
Work horse Westinghouse is a tested and tested AP1000 reactor design (6 in operations and 6 in construction) using using CANDA STANDARDOne of the most common in the world.
Is also working on AP300 Little Modular Reactorthat is likely to be deployed In Slovakia,, Finlandand Swowland Micro-Vinci microreactorIllustrating continuous innovations of the company and how it keeps step with the latest trends in the field.
Source: Westinghouse
Westinghouse is helpful in a large part of the nuclear supply chain. Due to the tight regulations, such parts and equipment will be required for any new power plant, traditional and SMR.
Overall, even if the problem with the van around uranium will be resolved and the prices of uranium collapse, the ownership of Westinghouse should allow Cameco to benefit from the ongoing nuclear Renaissance for several decades.
The rest of Cameco is a miner of uranium, who is likely to benefit from the nuclear energy of nuclear energy. Her hand mining assets are in Canada and Kazakhstan.
Historically, they suffered from uranium and nuclear reactor by fear of a nuclear disaster and concerns look nuclear waste.
How newer and safer patterns mature and how nuclear waste becomes a valuable source instead of a problem, it should not be a problem. This included carbon-4 production for Betavoltaics, which could become further production of Weestinghouse power plants.
In addition, the pressure on multiple low -carbon energy sources, while renewable sources, must still fully solve the problem of intermittent production, especially in winter, should help nuclear energy make a strong comeback.
(If you are more interested in the potential for the request of elements used in these studies, you can also Our Investing in Titan)