Successfully developed a new type of battery that works on nuclear waste and light

Scientists at Ohio State University (USA) have successfully developed a new type of battery that uses radiation from nuclear waste to generate electricity. This device combines scintillator crystals with photovoltaic cells. When absorbing radiation, the crystals emit light, and the photovoltaic cells convert that light into electricity. In essence, this is a "nuclear photovoltaic cell that converts gamma rays into electricity", with the potential to provide energy for small devices in areas with high radiation.

The battery, which is about the size of a small cube, was tested with two radioactive materials: cesium-137 and cobalt-60. The cesium-137 (a byproduct of nuclear power) produced 288 nanowatts, while the cobalt-60 (a more powerful material) produced 1.5 microwatts—enough to power tiny sensors. While that's a tiny amount of power compared to what's needed for everyday life, the team believes the technology could be scaled up to produce much more energy in the future.

The battery is designed for environments like nuclear waste storage facilities, space exploration systems, or underwater research, not for civilian use. Notably, the battery itself does not contain radioactive materials, so it is safe to touch despite the radiation it uses.

Research shows that the size and shape of the crystal in the battery affects performance: large crystals absorb more radiation and emit more light, while large photovoltaic cells convert light more efficiently.

Scaling up batteries to increase capacity still requires a lot of effort, especially because of the high cost of production. However, scientists see great potential for applications that are difficult to maintain or are not accessible regularly, because the batteries can operate for long periods without causing pollution.

The research is published in the journal Optical Materials: X, and the team sees this as just the beginning. They hope further testing will improve the design and create a more powerful prototype. The work was funded by US government agencies specializing in nuclear security and energy efficiency.

Micah Soto

Update 26 May 2025