30 Year Laptop Battery
 

Scientists Invent 30 Year Continuous Power Laptop Battery

http://i23.tinypic.com/n5itzo.jpg

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, they’re neither use fission/fusion or chemical processes to produce energy and so (do not produce any radioactive or hazardous waste). 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, a porous silicon material is used to collect the hydrogen isotope tritium which is generated in the process. 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. The reason the battery lasts so long is that neutron beta-decay into protons is the world's most concentrated source of electricity, truly demonstrating Einstein’s theory E=MC2.

The best part about these cells are when they eventually run out of power they are totally inert and non-toxic, so environmentalists need not fear these high tech scientific wonder batteries. If all goes well plans are for these cells to reach store shelves in about 2 to 3 years.

http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/...taic-10.1.html

I don't use a laptop myself, but logically if this is a feasible technology, what's to stop it being used in all TV's and computers? It could save lots of money in terms of electricity bills and such.

I'll believe it when I see it. Battery life is something I have absolutely no faith in - based upon years of disapointing experience.

there is not a single thing that last for 30 years, so drop it to 10-15 reduce price and developmenttime & costs and release the damn thing

I may be a little rusty on my physics but I always thought that beta decay poses a genuine risk to human health. Alpha particles can only affect us if we ingest them or if they enter the bloodstream directly through say a cut or graze but beta particles can penetrate the skin can they not?

OK, so the developers may say we'll ensure the battery has aluminium-plated walls but that is far from safe. What happens if you drop your laptop and damage the battery? What happens if you throw your laptop out in 10-20 years as it is completely outdated instead of waiting till it's dead:

So they are toxic and potentially damaging to the environment if discarded before they are expired?

I like the idea but using radioactive decay to provide power in day to day situations outwith a nuclear power plant somehow seems like treading on very thin ice. Also, given that the batteries 'supposedly' last for 30 years, what will such long term exposure have on your health even if short term exposure is deemed inconsequential? Would you want your kids using them?

Just plug one of these bad boys in...

http://www.virtualsciencefair.org/20...ster_wheel.jpg

They give 2-3 years decent service.

And very enviromentally friendly...lmao