Scientists Turn Nuclear Waste into Battery

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a groundbreaking technology that turns nuclear waste into a battery, offering a potential way to repurpose hazardous materials from power plants.

Nuclear energy generates about 18% of electricity in the United States, according to the World Nuclear Association. While it does not produce carbon emissions, it leaves behind radioactive waste that remains dangerous for thousands of years. Disposing of this waste is a major challenge due to its long-term environmental risks.

Use of gamma radiation for power

To tackle this issue, scientists created a battery that uses a special material known as a scintillator. This material absorbs gamma radiation from nuclear waste and emits visible light, similar to glow-in-the-dark objects but powered by radiation instead of sunlight.

A solar cell then captures this light and converts it into electricity, much like those in solar panels.

“Nuclear waste emits powerful gamma radiation, a high-energy form that can penetrate most materials,” Raymond Cao, lead author of the study published in the journal Optical Materials: X and a professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering at Ohio State, told Live Science in an email.

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Researchers have explored unconventional methods for power generation, including nuclear photovoltaic batteries that harness ambient radiation. This article delves into the concept of X Scintillator based nuclear… pic.twitter.com/5TUwS8xqz6

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“Our device employs a scintillator, a specialized material that absorbs these gamma rays and converts their energy into visible light — similar to how glow-in-the-dark objects function, but driven by radiation rather than sunlight. This light is then captured by a solar cell, like those found in solar panels, which transforms it into electrical power.”

Prototype testing and potential applications

The prototype battery, approximately the size of a teaspoon of sugar, was tested at Ohio State’s Nuclear Reactor Laboratory. Scientists used two radioactive materials—cesium-137 and cobalt-60—to measure its power output.

With cesium-137, the battery generated 288 nanowatts, while cobalt-60, which is more radioactive, produced 1,500 nanowatts. Although this output is too small to power household devices, it is sufficient for microelectronics, such as sensors and emergency equipment.

Because the battery relies on existing radiation, it is not designed for home use. Instead, researchers see it as a power source for extreme environments, such as space missions or deep-sea exploration, where radiation levels are high and traditional energy sources are unreliable.

Some obstacles remain before the battery can be adopted widely. The high radiation levels gradually degrade both the scintillator and the solar cell, reducing their efficiency over time.

“Further development is needed for more durable, radiation-resistant materials to ensure the system’s longevity,” Cao said.

If researchers find a way to make these batteries more durable, they could be placed in high-radiation areas that are hard to reach and require little to no maintenance. This would make them a valuable energy source for specialized applications.