Nuclear Power and Waste Management

In contrast to fossil fuels, nuclear power plants emit minimal greenhouse gases, making them a relatively safer and more environmentally friendly option, currently generating approximately one-fifth of the United States’ electricity. However, they produce hazardous waste, and scientists are still working to find effective methods to manage this byproduct. What if it were possible to not only store this waste but also utilize it to generate more energy?

A team of researchers in Ohio has been inspired by this concept and has developed a small battery powered by nuclear waste. By exposing scintillator crystals, which emit light when they absorb radiation, to gamma radiation produced by nuclear waste, the crystals’ light can then power a solar battery. A recent study, published on January 29 in the journal Optical Materials: X, demonstrates the potential for background levels of gamma radiation to power small electronics, such as microchips.

According to lead author Raymond Cao, “We’re transforming something considered waste into something valuable.” Cao, the director of Ohio State’s Nuclear Reactor Lab, made this statement in an Ohio State University press release.

The research team tested the battery prototype using cesium-137 and cobalt-60, common radioactive byproducts of nuclear reactors. The battery produced 288 nanowatts of power using cesium-137 and 1.5 microwatts using cobalt-60, which is sufficient to power a small sensor.

Although this achievement may seem modest, with a standard 10W LED light bulb requiring 10 million microwatts, Cao and his colleagues argue that their approach could be scaled up to power technology at the watt scale or higher. Such batteries could be used in environments where nuclear waste is produced, such as nuclear waste storage pools, and have the potential to be long-lasting with minimal maintenance requirements.

Ibrahim Oksuz, co-author of the study and an Ohio State mechanical and aerospace engineer, stated, “The nuclear battery concept is very promising, with significant room for improvement. I believe that in the future, this approach will occupy an important space in both the energy production and sensors industry.”

The researchers also noted that the structure of the scintillator crystals may impact the battery’s energy output, with larger crystals potentially absorbing more radiation and emitting more light. A solar battery with a larger surface area can also absorb more light, resulting in increased energy production.

As Oksuz explained, “This two-step process is still in its preliminary stages, but the next step involves generating greater watts with scale-up constructs.”

Currently, scaling this technology would be expensive, and further research is necessary to refine the findings. Nevertheless, the study demonstrates that with sufficient ingenuity, one person’s waste can indeed become another person’s treasure – or, in this case, a source of energy.