Nanopore/Multilayer Isotope Batteries Using Radioisotopes from Nuclear Wastes

Abstract

Nuclear (“isotope”) batteries of various sorts based on a variety of radioisotopes have been studied for over 50 years. They can play a mission-critical role when other power sources cannot fulfill the demanding requirements for maintenance free ultra long life operation. However, the conversion efficiency and power level are often far from that desired so that their applications in the civilian market have been quite limited, although some military and NASA space uses have occurred. The typically high costs of prior isotope batteries have further exacerbated the problem. Meanwhile, the handling and storage of nuclear waste have become both a technological and a political issue. In the present paper we discuss use of isotopes from nuclear wastes to power nuclear batteries, lowering their costs and providing an important use for key isotopes from nuclear waste. However, these isotopes are not “ideal” for such use, so improved nuclear battery design must be developed to provide a useful battery. The present reference design is based on the most abundant isotope pair available in fission products, Sr-90/Y-90. Other waste isotopes could be used in later designs once this approach is successfully demonstrated from Sr-90/Y-90.