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Micronuclear battery based on a coalescent energy transducer

Author

Listed:
  • Kai Li

    (Soochow University)

  • Congchong Yan

    (Soochow University)

  • Junren Wang

    (Soochow University)

  • Kun Zhu

    (Soochow University)

  • Junjun Guo

    (Soochow University)

  • Yugang Zhang

    (Soochow University)

  • Guozheng Shi

    (Soochow University)

  • Yuchen Yin

    (Soochow University)

  • Liwei Cheng

    (Soochow University)

  • Liang Sun

    (Soochow University)

  • Yumin Wang

    (Soochow University)

  • Hailong Zhang

    (Soochow University)

  • Ying Sun

    (Soochow University)

  • Jianyu Yuan

    (Soochow University)

  • Wanli Ma

    (Soochow University)

  • Guoxun Ji

    (Xi’an Research Institute of High Technology)

  • Zhifang Chai

    (Soochow University)

  • Yaxing Wang

    (Soochow University)

  • Xiaoping Ouyang

    (Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology
    Xiangtan University)

  • Shuao Wang

    (Soochow University)

Abstract

Micronuclear batteries harness energy from the radioactive decay of radioisotopes to generate electricity on a small scale, typically in the nanowatt or microwatt range1,2. Contrary to chemical batteries, the longevity of a micronuclear battery is tied to the half-life of the used radioisotope, enabling operational lifetimes that can span several decades3. Furthermore, the radioactive decay remains unaffected by environmental factors such as temperature, pressure and magnetic fields, making the micronuclear battery an enduring and reliable power source in scenarios in which conventional batteries prove impractical or challenging to replace4. Common radioisotopes of americium (241Am and 243Am) are α-decay emitters with half-lives longer than hundreds of years. Severe self-adsorption in traditional architectures of micronuclear batteries impedes high-efficiency α-decay energy conversion, making the development of α-radioisotope micronuclear batteries challenging5,6. Here we propose a micronuclear battery architecture that includes a coalescent energy transducer by incorporating 243Am into a luminescent lanthanide coordination polymer. This couples radioisotopes with energy transducers at the molecular level, resulting in an 8,000-fold enhancement in energy conversion efficiency from α decay energy to sustained autoluminescence compared with that of conventional architectures. When implemented in conjunction with a photovoltaic cell that translates autoluminescence into electricity, a new type of radiophotovoltaic micronuclear battery with a total power conversion efficiency of 0.889% and a power per activity of 139 microwatts per curie (μW Ci−1) is obtained.

Suggested Citation

  • Kai Li & Congchong Yan & Junren Wang & Kun Zhu & Junjun Guo & Yugang Zhang & Guozheng Shi & Yuchen Yin & Liwei Cheng & Liang Sun & Yumin Wang & Hailong Zhang & Ying Sun & Jianyu Yuan & Wanli Ma & Guox, 2024. "Micronuclear battery based on a coalescent energy transducer," Nature, Nature, vol. 633(8031), pages 811-815, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:633:y:2024:i:8031:d:10.1038_s41586-024-07933-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07933-9
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