How to Dispose of Nuclear Waste

Tim Semenov

November Reflection Paper

        The short lifespan of the conventional batteries, and the frequent replacements that are needed, made the need for a more reliable and longer lasting source of energy. A lot of spaceships, radars, and other advanced communication devices need a larger power than that of conventional batteries. One solution could be nuclear powered batteries that have a life span of a few decades. The work of physicists and chemists at the University of Bristol have “grown a man-made diamond that, when placed in a radioactive field, is able to generate a small electric current” (University of Bristol). For this reflection paper, I chose to write about “'Diamond-age' of power generation as nuclear batteries developed” from the website phys.org. In this paper, I want to summarize the article, explain my personal reflection about it and its impact.

        The question of how to dispose of nuclear waste is one of the great challenge of this modern world. Disposal is more often just to keep the waste safe and being able to get at it later when needed, usually for industry and medicine. But the researchers from the University of Bristol found a way to convert thousands of seemingly worthless nuclear waste into diamond batteries that could generate for longer periods of time. This development could really solve some problems of nuclear waste and provide clean electricity generation. This article explains how the man-made diamonds, unlike the majority of electricity generation technologies that use energy to move a magnet through a coil of wire to generate current, is able to produce a charge just by being placed closely to a radioactive source. Tom Scott, a member of the Cabot Institute, said that “There are no moving parts involved, no emissions generated and no maintenance required, just direct electricity generation. By encapsulating radioactive material inside diamonds, we turn a long-term problem of nuclear waste into a nuclear-powered battery and a long-term supply of clean energy" (University of Bristol).

The researches at Bristol are trying to improve efficiency by utilizing carbon-14, a radioactive version of carbon, which is generated in graphite blocks used to moderate the reaction in nuclear power plants. They have shown that the radioactive carbon-14 is concentrated at the surface of these blocks, which makes it possible to remove most of the radioactive material. This extracted carbon-14 is then “Incorporated into a diamond to produce a nuclear powered battery” (University of Bristol). Carbon-14 was chosen as a source material because it emits a short range radiation that is quickly absorbed by any solid material. It is dangerous to ingest or touch for the human body, but if safely held within a diamond, no short range radiation can escape it. Diamond is the hardest substance known to man so they used it as the best protection.