To make use of the radioactive waste from nuclear plants, University of Bristol scientists have an unusual plan: turn it into diamonds that can be used as long-lasting batteries.
The resulting diamond batteries would remain stable and give off a weak electrical current for an extremely long time, according to Popular Mechanics, making them a potential gamechanger to power medical devices or scientific equipment deployed in dangerous environments.
Most of the U.K.’s nuclear power plants are set to be decommissioned in the next 15 years, according to a Bristol press release. Physicist Tom Scott sees that as an opportunity to build diamond battery factories onsite that could take in and process the radioactive carbon-14 isotypes.
