Can strontium be used to make a super battery?

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In summary, scientists have found a way to create a strontium generator using radioactive elements. The technology is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to be a viable source of power in the future.
  • #1
canadmonster
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can strontium be used to make a super battery? Or a strontium generator?
 
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  • #3
RTG have been around for long time now. The heat from the radioactive decay is harnessed by a thermocouple and converted into electricity.

Various radioactive elements can be employed with different half-lives for different applications.

Sr90 is pretty radioactive so might be used.

Also, it looks like scientists at Los Alamos are coming with a way to directly convert radiation into elecrity using carbon nano-tubes. Sounds very promising.

http://technology.newscientist.com/...urns-radiation-directly-into-electricity.html
 
  • #4
The bones of those of us lucky(?) enough to have been born in the 1950s have a generous helping of Sr90 from all those lovely atmospheric tests...
 
  • #5
This is way overdue...the understanding and technology is in place to get on with this.
However, in the current climate, this will be a no-no...:smile:

We worked out one generator, theoretically, at work that would give us 640watts roughly for every terabequerel of amercium activity.
Am-241 has a halflife of 432 years, so buying such a generator is for life...

Big oil rules...
 
  • #6
so with all the radioactive waste from nuclear reactors can be used to power another power plant
 
  • #7
Thats why they have re-processing...to reuse the waste...

research is continuing into how they can further utilise waste for generation...problem is, most waste are products that do not give off the right stuff...
they are hoping to find ways that will allow them to effectively speed up the transmutation or reduce the half-life of these products to make them have further life, rather than get stuck in some ground facility somewhere...

i'm wishing them all the success as without a doubt, its a nuclear future...
 
  • #8
zeitghost said:
The bones of those of us lucky(?) enough to have been born in the 1950s have a generous helping of Sr90 from all those lovely atmospheric tests...
Holy cow! Do I have enough to become a copper-top? :rolleyes:
 
  • #9
turbo-1 said:
Holy cow! Do I have enough to become a copper-top? :rolleyes:

Depends where you were with regards to the fallout... :biggrin:
 

1. Can strontium be used to make a super battery?

Yes, strontium can be used to make a super battery. Strontium is a highly reactive metal that can be used as an anode material in batteries, providing a high energy density and long battery life.

2. How is strontium used in batteries?

Strontium can be used as an anode material in batteries, meaning it serves as the negative electrode in a battery. When strontium is combined with a cathode material and an electrolyte, it can form a battery that can store and release energy.

3. What makes strontium a good choice for a super battery?

Strontium has a high energy density, meaning it can store a lot of energy in a small amount of space. It also has a low potential for self-discharge, making it a stable and long-lasting option for batteries. Additionally, strontium is relatively affordable and abundant, making it a practical choice for large-scale battery production.

4. Are there any downsides to using strontium in batteries?

One potential downside to using strontium in batteries is its reactivity. Strontium can react with moisture in the air, which could cause safety concerns in certain battery designs. Additionally, strontium may not be as readily available as other battery materials, depending on location and accessibility.

5. What research is currently being done on using strontium in batteries?

Scientists are currently researching ways to optimize the use of strontium in batteries, such as finding ways to control its reactivity and exploring different cathode materials to use in conjunction with strontium. There is also ongoing research on creating more efficient and cost-effective methods for producing strontium-based batteries.

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