Tuesday, October 2nd 2007

Scientists Invent 30 Year Continuous Power Laptop Battery

Oct 2nd, 2007 13:26 Discuss (21 Comments)

Your next laptop could have a continuous power battery that lasts for 30 years without a single recharge thanks to work being funded by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. The breakthrough betavoltaic power cells are constructed from semiconductors and use radioisotopes as the energy source. As the radioactive material decays it emits beta particles that transform into electric power capable of fueling an electrical device like a laptop for years. Although betavoltaic batteries sound Nuclear they're not. Betavoltaics generate power when an electron strikes a particular interface between two layers of material. The process uses beta electron emissions that occur when a neutron decays into a proton which causes a forward bias in the semiconductor. This makes the betavoltaic cell a forward bias diode of sorts, similar in some respects to a photovoltaic (solar) cell. Electrons scatter out of their normal orbits in the semiconductor and into the circuit creating a usable electric current. The profile of the batteries can be quite small and thin, also the reaction is non-thermal which means laptops and other small devices like mobile phones will run much cooler than with traditional lithium-ion power batteries. If all goes well plans are for these cells to reach store shelves in about 2 to 3 years.

Source: NextEnergy News

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21 Comments on Scientists Invent 30 Year Continuous Power Laptop Battery

DaMulta

My stars went supernova

A little off topic.

If this is true, why not a bigger version that can power cars?

That has been the biggest problem with battery powered cars is that they only last for so long before needing a long recharge.

rodneyhchef

Just don't try and dismantle one or else you'll end up like marie curie! :roll:

Namslas90

DaMultaA little off topic.

If this is true, why not a bigger version that can power cars?

That has been the biggest problem with battery powered cars is that they only last for so long before needing a long recharge.

I presented my Physics Professor with this exact same Idea over 15 years ago. He told me I was foolish and was waisting my time. Guess I should have took out a patent. (He also worked for DOD).

:toast:

mandelore

rodneyhchefJust don't try and dismantle one or else you'll end up like marie curie! :roll:

its ß Radiation, hi energy electrons basically. clothing can protect against those, and can only cause minor damage to the germinal layer of the skin over long periods of exposure. no risk in the slightest of a third arm growing out your head. the radiation only travels a few Ft anyways.

it can be harmful if ingested, but otherwise poses little risk :)

mandelore

Namslas90I presented my Physics Professor with this exact same Idea over 15 years ago. He told me I was foolish and was waisting my time. Guess I should have took out a patent. (He also worked for DOD).

:toast:

well... radioisotope batteries have been around alot longer than that :)

Namslas90

mandelorewell... radioisotope batteries have been around alot longer than that :)

Yeah, I ment the car battery thing.:toast:

mandelore

Namslas90Yeah, I ment the car battery thing.:toast:

ahh, okay then. corrected I stand :)

maybe in a particular facet of this multiverse you did indeed patent the idea and are currently employing Billy Gates as your toilet cleaner :roll:

Casheti

This is pretty amazing.

I don't understand a bloody word it says but a battery that lasts even just a year is amazing, but 30? Wow...

Just makes you wonder how far science will take us within the next few decades.

kakazza

I wonder how much battery producers will like that...

#10

effmaster

kakazzaI wonder how much battery producers will like that...

Im sure Sony would love not to lose another what was it again a couple billion dollars in battery replacements:laugh::slap:

#11

3991vhtes

Cool. :toast:

If I were to get one right now, it would last me till I was 44 years old! :eek: lol.

#12

LonGun

malwareYour next laptop could have a continuous power battery that lasts for 30 years without a single recharge thanks to work being funded by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. The breakthrough betavoltaic power cells are constructed from semiconductors and use radioisotopes as the energy source. As the radioactive material decays it emits beta particles that transform into electric power capable of fueling an electrical device like a laptop for years. Although betavoltaic batteries sound Nuclear they’re not. Betavoltaics generate power when an electron strikes a particular interface between two layers of material. The process uses beta electron emissions that occur when a neutron decays into a proton which causes a forward bias in the semiconductor. This makes the betavoltaic cell a forward bias diode of sorts, similar in some respects to a photovoltaic (solar) cell. Electrons scatter out of their normal orbits in the semiconductor and into the circuit creating a usable electric current. The profile of the batteries can be quite small and thin, also the reaction is non-thermal which means laptops and other small devices like mobile phones will run much cooler than with traditional lithium-ion power batteries. If all goes well plans are for these cells to reach store shelves in about 2 to 3 years.

Source: NextEnergy News

At that time, I wonder how much is that laptop going to cost us? I guess it's gotta be an affordable price. And how are companies out there going to make money selling their Lithium batteries for the upgrades.

#13

WarEagleAU

Bird of Prey

Id love to have a car that runs on batteries for 30 years before needing a recharge.

thing is, big oil wont like it and all governments cave in and cater to their whims.

#14

Zero Cool

WarEagleAUId love to have a car that runs on batteries for 30 years before needing a recharge.

thing is, big oil wont like it and all governments cave in and cater to their whims.

Thats just the USA :D

#15

effmaster

Zero CoolThats just the USA :D

Really then why is it that Gas in Europe costs more than it does in the USA and yes our gas prices already have tax included in them thank you very much.

#16

DrunkenMafia

jeez, those little nerds are pretty friggin good... Imagine how much those top scientists are gettin paid..... lol

#17

Grings

I bet this gets bought by one of the big companies, patented, and locked in a dusty old vault forever, with clean running fuels, everlasting light bulbs, and engines that can run for millions of miles without breakdown:rolleyes:

#18

effmaster

GringsI bet this gets bought by one of the big companies, patented, and locked in a dusty old vault forever, with clean running fuels, everlasting light bulbs, and engines that can run for millions of miles without breakdown:rolleyes:

Same reason why they probably have ways to actually give us true 1 GB per second speeds across the internetz (after all Ethernet does support it now and there are even some universities that use a shared connection on the internet that only for their use and it is 100GBPS . No joke im quite serious)

#19

Random Murderer

The Anti-Midas

malwareIf all goes well plans are for these cells to reach store shelves in about 2 to 3 years and will cost upwards of $1000 for a single AA sized version.

there, I fixed it for you.

#20

Cuzza

DaMultaA little off topic.

If this is true, why not a bigger version that can power cars?

That has been the biggest problem with battery powered cars is that they only last for so long before needing a long recharge.

Well let's say this 1.5V AA cell can discharge at 2 amps (same as energizer lithium). That's 3 watts. And a car needs (say) 100kW. Then you'd need 33,000 of them to run your car. At 15g each that's about 500kg of battery to put in your car. And 33 million dollars!

#21

Lame

Namslas90I presented my Physics Professor with this exact same Idea over 15 years ago. He told me I was foolish and was waisting my time. Guess I should have took out a patent. (He also worked for DOD).

:toast:

Yes, that is an major problem, know it alls stifling true (beyond them) innovation. Why don't you send him this quote with article and comments. If he has any sense he should consider you for an job.

There was an similar sounding battery technology announced in the late 80's. It was proposed for an car battery I think, that would recharge itself for 17 years, could be protected from radiation using aluminium foil, used low grade radiative waste. But I can't remember the details of how it did this. Disappeared without much of an trace.

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Scientists Invent 30 Year Continuous Power Laptop Battery

21 Comments on Scientists Invent 30 Year Continuous Power Laptop Battery

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