USAF develops 30-year notebook battery tech
updated 04:25 pm EDT, Tue October 2, 2007
Betavoltaic Battery
The US Air Force Research Laboratory has revealed a new battery technology that could effectively end the need to constantly recharge notebooks, handhelds, and other portable devices in the near future. Called a betavoltaic battery, the advancement would be based on silicon chips but take advantage of the decay from radioisotopes to catch beta electron emissions, using their electricity to power the chips and generate a steady, powered current. Though it would use a decaying substance, the battery would not be radioactive and would be extremely efficient; the energy released is so strong that a notebook could run for 30 years before requiring a new charge, says one estimate.
The technology would have additional side benefits, according to the research lab. Battery reactions are non-thermal and so would not generate the heat that adds to the overall temperature of a given device or could trigger fires. The radioisotope, an extraction layer, and the semiconductors are all thin and could allow for extra-thin shapes. Users could also dispose of the battery themselves since the entire compound would be non-hazardous.
Despite its government-funded nature, the betavoltaics project is intended to be used both by the military and the public at large, and should be turned into a commercial product within two to three years. No companies were specifically included as part of the announcement. [via Next Energy News]
wow
10/02, 04:42pm reply
That seriously just blew my mind! Thats f****** awesome!
l008com
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Joined: Jan 2000
amazing
10/02, 04:42pm reply
that would be something else
climacs
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not so fast there
10/02, 04:45pm reply
check this out and decide for yourself how viable this thing is
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/10/02/30year-betavoltaic-b.html
climacs
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deleted
10/02, 05:05pm reply
deleted
Jordan
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Joined: Jun 2001
Check your sources....
10/02, 05:07pm reply
No reference on the AFRL site.
No other credible news reference.
Very dodgy physics behind this. (If it's even remotely possible) http://www.phact.org/e/z/betavoltaic.htm
I'd probably remove the article if I were you....
Jordan
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deleted
10/02, 05:07pm reply
deleted
Jordan
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Betavoltaic Batteries
10/02, 08:41pm reply
Have been around since the mid 90's .. use nuclear waste . .. and was invented by Dr. Paul Brown from Utah ... who happened to die in a odd car chase / race.
automorrow
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coincidence?
10/02, 11:09pm reply
I'm not one for conspiracy theories but...
Oct. 3, 2007 "Procter & Gamble, the largest US consumer goods company, might raise as much as $13.5 billion selling its Duracell battery [...]"
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2423215,prtpage-1.cms
Rezzz
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Qynergy
10/02, 11:48pm reply
All the news on this today seems to come from the same source, but the real scoop is the AF is not producing this, the Qynergy company is, check http://www.qynergy.com/technology.htm
lepton
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that's great, but...
10/03, 12:10am reply
how long will it take to recharge?
himself
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