30-Year Continuous Power Laptop Battery

Posted by Mikko at 6 October 2007

Category: Random

I don’t know if my source is kidding about this but I think it’s an interesting post.

U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory funded a research which resulted to the invention of betavoltaic battery. This battery can supply a continuous power to a laptop for a span of 30 years, without a single recharge. Sounds crazy, right? But who’s keeping a laptop for 30 years? Even today’s latest laptop juiced by that battery’d outdated before the battery runs down. ;D Why didn’t they choose another subject, like an electric car? See the answer (hopefully) after this jump.

How does this work?

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. (nosebleed, Inday jokes please!!)

Is it bad for the environment?

No. When they ran out of power, they are totally inert and non-toxic. How about that?

Why do they last long?

Neutron beta-decay into protons is the world’s most concentrated source of electricity, truly demonstrating Einstein’s theory E=MC2.

Hope you understood the nerdy part. Just posting this for fun. ;D

Source: NextEnergyNews

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1 Comment

  1. Tracy says

    that is an interesting post.
    i especially have to wonder along with you who keeps a lap top for 30 years and why didn’t they work on a car battery or something that would actually be more than an anecdote.

    Reply

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