The disposal of nuclear waste has been a major problem in many developed countries. And, to dealing with high-level nuclear waste, we have to store them for thousands of years to wait for the harmful radiation will not harm the human body.
To break this status quo, scientists seem to have different ideas.
Physicists and chemists formed a research team recently. The main purpose is to research how to turn the nuclear waste into useful energy, by turning nuclear waste into diamond batteries. They found that encapsulating materials with short-range radioactivity into artificial diamonds can produce a small amount of electric charge even if the dangerous radioactive material has been completely blocked. It means that the effect of making a battery can be achieved in such a manner.
Photo courtesy: cygig Nov.30 2016 https://pixabay.com/
Although researchers are currently experimenting with nickel isotopes, they will use the carbon-14 isotopes to make diamond batteries. They can also use the hardness of diamonds to lock up the radioactive material to prevent environmental damage and pollution.
Though the diamond battery can not produce too much power, its life is a lot longer than the normal battery. Researchers have predicted that if the battery is successfully made, the battery will still produce 50% of the electricity after 5,730 years of use. Experts also predicted that these batteries will be used in the drones, heart rhythm adjuster, and spacecraft.
Photo courtesy: gr8effect Nov.30 2016 https://pixabay.com/
But, to successfully make diamond batteries, we have a lot of work to do. The cost will undoubtedly be a serious problem.
For environmentalists, turning harmful nuclear waste into useful energy is definitely a happy news. Hoping the making of the diamond battery can reuse the harmful substances, and reduce the accumulation of high-level nuclear waste.