Scientist from the University of Missouri designed a micro nuclear battery.
The radioactive compound is emitting heat with is transformed into energy by a liquid-based microcircuit. The energy density is 6 fold higher than the one recorded by standard battery, and lifetime is defined by the half-life of the radioactive isotope and can reach several years. Scientists are now working to further improve the energy power in order to fuel more demanding devices.
Of course, we will most likely never find such battery in laptop or other mobile devices. there are too much risk of irradiation associated with a potential destruction of the nuclear battery, while recycling would not be very easy nor necessarily the best investment for the ecology and the environment protection. However, it could be used in medical devices and/or pace-makers, if one can ensure that our immune system would not be able to attack the nuclear battery enclosure.
