One Laptop Battery That Lasts 30 Years Without Recharge
What would you say if I told you that thanks to the US Air Force Research Laboratory we could have laptop batteries that would last for 30 years without the need of a recharge? You would say I am crazy but this is exactly what we need to talk about now. They invented a special betavolic power cell that is built from semiconductors with the use of radioisotopes as energy sources. Radioactive material ends up decaying over time and as a result it emits beta particles. They transform into electric power that can power laptops for previously unimagined periods of time: years. To make it even more interesting, such batteries can be very small. We have a non-thermal reactions so there is also no risk of over-heating and when the battery runs out of power it is non-toxic. It was stated that such batteries might be available to the public in around 2 years. Well, in two years we might have a laptop revolution on our hands.
Category: Featured
what about powering our vehicals? save using up what we’ve already nearly dipleated
This is a very exciting innovation for the computer industry. These batteries could be used not only for laptops but for any number of things, not the least of witch would be to power Desktop computers and there corresponding monitor with no need for a wall outlet or a extremely heavy power source. Hats off to the US Air Force Research Laboratory on this breakthrough, I’ll be waiting eagerly to hear more about this.
historical invention it seems. how abt using the same battery for house hold electronic items and stuff?
My first question is, what are the side effects? A year ago, we were all being told to switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. now, we know that they have a high level of mercury, and we can’t even throw them away like regular bulbs.
This would be amazing. Not just for my laptop but more for my mobile and iPOD!
I would like to see more technical details…Anyone have further links?
And what about the X-Rays emitted by the radioactive material?
I predict, that cancer will increase immensely with the release of this “invention”. Thank You US-AirForce for boosting the Pharma-Industry!
I guess this is a hoax. Well it does work, in pacemakers, but betavoltaic batteries have some serious issues, e.g. the beta radiation will deteriorate most semiconductor materials. There are some compounds that will be able to withstand the high energy electrons, but even so betavoltaic batteries will output just some milliwatts due to the low energy conversion efficiency.
Sounds like a great idea. The only problem I can think of is that beta radiation is a relatively dangerous ionising radiation, so I’d like to know how they’ll shield the user from radiation exposure?
Smells like snake oil to me. 80 watts (that’s what my laptop draws) of beta rays implies a *lot* of radioactive material. You’d need an NRC license to possess it. What keeps the semiconductor diodes from getting fried by the intense ionizing radiation? What happens to the terminal voltage under varying load? There were beta-powered batteries decades ago; they had very high internal resistance, so they worked only in very low-current applications, and quietly vanished from the market.
This is total bullshit. Think for one minute, using RADIOISOTOPES??!!?? If one of these things gets damaged, bye bye neighborhood. The fact is that once beta emitting radioisotopes are aerosolized (by damage or overheating or what have you), they get breathed in. Once that happens, it will be lung cancer with 2 years. no way is this going to be given to the public!
This is a good idea and good technology. Hope it won’t be far too much expensive.
The catch is probably the cost for one. You could probably buy 10 separate normal yet rechargeable batteries for less than this.
So I would want to know a few things. 1: are they going to be cased so that we do not get poisoned by the Radioactive Material, 2: are they going to be interchangeable batteries because the average lifespan for a laptop computer is maybe 5 years, 2 on average unless you upgrade it continuously. They would have to be a pack that you plugged into the back of the computer, OR the computer manufactures would have to never change the battery plug-in in the bottom of the laptop. What is the use of a battery that you never have to recharge on a piece of equipment that is outdated buy 5 or more years? Think about the last time that you got a new laptop computer. Did anything from your old computer work in the new one? I can see many advantages to this, but I also see many disadvantages.
It’s a shame, but it isn’t going to happen – at least, no time soon. The physics is against it…
http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006069o-2000331777b,00.htm
it is an amazing project.i want to implement this in mobile phones for my project.Is it possible to implement with low cost?.
id rather stay powered by a litium ion battery than one which is RADIOactive, which may cause undesirable alien face later.
due to radiation LOL
Yes, this is exciting and so are the flying car and personal jetpack. Those have been “just a few years away” for over 50 years.
I’ll believe this one when I see it. For one hing, their are far too many moneyed interests who would be hurt by this; not just battery makers, either.
so… it’s been two years since this post….
WHERE’S MAH BATTERIES!
The technology is being developed for UAVS, and satellites. 2 years until it’s introduced into Free market was a long stretch. This announcement means a viable market for electric cars once the technology goes through testing in the FCC which in reality means another 20-30 years before we get our hands on it. (if it even exists)
Very interesting development. Though it may be some time before this type of technology becomes available.