Voyager’s power output in 1977 was just 158 watts—less than a typical household light fixture.
Key Takeaways
- A nuclear diamond battery is claimed to last 28,000 years, sparking curiosity and skepticism.
- The battery uses nano diamonds and radioactive isotopes to generate electricity through heat transfer.
- Its longevity and efficiency make it ideal for devices like pacemakers and space probes.
- Challenges include high production costs, structural weaknesses, and potential nuclear waste concerns.
- NDB plans to debut the battery in a smartwatch, expected to launch as early as 2022.
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A Battery That Lasts Millennia
Imagine owning a smartwatch with a battery that lasts 28,000 years, outliving not only you but generations of your family. That’s the promise of Nano Diamond Battery (NDB), a San Francisco-based startup developing a nuclear diamond battery powered by radioactive isotopes and nano diamonds. The company claims its innovation offers “life-long and green energy” for various applications, from medical implants to space exploration.
The key to this groundbreaking technology lies in nano diamonds, which are excellent heat conductors and essential for generating electricity from radioactive decay. Scientists create these diamonds through an expensive chemical vapor deposition process, combining them with isotopes like uranium and plutonium sourced from nuclear waste. The resulting single-crystal diamonds rapidly dissipate heat from the decaying isotopes, converting it into electricity through a specialized transducer.
Applications and Challenges
The potential uses for the nuclear diamond battery are vast. It could power life-saving medical devices like pacemakers and hearing aids, eliminating the need for replacement surgeries. In space, it could sustain satellites and rovers for decades without maintenance. NDB even envisions stacking its battery cells to meet the energy needs of larger devices, from tablets to mobile phones.
Despite its promise, several obstacles remain. Each battery cell produces minimal energy, requiring a high number of cells to power larger devices, which significantly increases costs. Additionally, the radioactive material embedded in the diamond cells creates structural vulnerabilities that could lead to breakage and contribute to nuclear waste. While this may not pose a problem for space applications, it raises environmental concerns on Earth.
NDB plans to address these issues while debuting its technology in a commercial product—a smartwatch expected to launch in 2022. This first step will serve as a proof of concept, demonstrating the feasibility of using nuclear diamond batteries in everyday devices.
A Long Road Ahead
While the concept of a battery lasting millennia is captivating, many details remain undisclosed. The company has yet to release key specifications, such as power density, or provide visual demonstrations of the technology. These uncertainties leave room for skepticism, but the potential benefits make the nuclear diamond battery a pursuit worth watching.
Whether or not it delivers on its bold claims, NDB’s technology highlights the possibilities of sustainable, long-lasting energy solutions for both Earth and beyond.
