Articles tagged with "radiation-resistance"
Chinese scientists create nuclear battery with 3x better efficiency
Chinese scientists have developed an advanced nuclear battery featuring strontium-90 radio-photovoltaic cells (RPVCs) that deliver three times the energy efficiency of conventional designs and can operate reliably for at least 50 years. Led by researchers Haisheng San and Xin Li, the team addressed the limitations of traditional power sources—such as chemical batteries and fuel cells—that struggle with durability, maintenance, and continuous operation in extreme environments like space or deep-sea infrastructure. Their novel RPVC design uses a waveguide light concentration (WLC) structure combined with multilayer-stacked Cerium-doped gadolinium aluminum gallium garnet (GAGG: Ce) scintillation waveguides to convert radioactive energy into light, which is then efficiently converted into electricity by photovoltaic cells. Performance tests showed that a single RPVC unit achieved an efficiency of 2.96%, significantly surpassing existing RPVCs, with an output of 48.9 microwatts and multi-module setups reaching
energynuclear-batteryradio-photovoltaic-cellslong-term-powerradiation-resistancebattery-efficiencyadvanced-materialsTough alloy tested at 1112°F to replace steel in nuclear reactors
Researchers at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) are investigating high entropy alloys (HEAs) as potential replacements for stainless steel in nuclear reactors, aiming to improve materials that withstand extreme heat and radiation. HEAs differ from conventional alloys by combining five or more metals in roughly equal atomic proportions, resulting in a stable solid solution with a distorted lattice structure that imparts unique properties such as high strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, and radiation tolerance. The study focused on an HEA composed of iron, manganese, chromium, and nickel, chosen for its stability at high temperatures and manufacturability. Using the ultrabright synchrotron light at the Canadian Light Source, the team exposed the HEA to high-energy protons at 752°F (400°C) and 1112°F (600°C) under varying radiation doses. They observed the formation of small defects called Frank Loops, which increased with temperature, and noted elemental segregation within the alloy at higher temperatures. While the HEA demonstrated better
materialshigh-entropy-alloysnuclear-reactorsradiation-resistancesuperalloysenergy-materialscorrosion-resistanceNext-gen nuclear reactors rely on solar salts for better heat control
energynuclear-reactorsthermal-energy-storagemolten-saltsadvanced-materialsradiation-resistancereactor-safety