Imagine a battery that could keep running for thousands of years. No recharging, no replacing, and no waste piling up in landfills. It sounds like science fiction, but scientists in the UK have turned this idea into reality with the world’s first diamond battery as discovered in a story published on ITV, an extraordinary piece of technology with the potential to revolutionize how we think about power.
Here’s the lowdown on what makes this innovation so groundbreaking—and why it might just change the world.
At the heart of this futuristic battery is a clever combination of science and synthetic diamonds. These diamonds, grown in a lab, encase a radioactive element called Carbon-14, a material often found in nuclear waste.
As Carbon-14 decays, it emits fast-moving electrons. The diamond battery captures these electrons and converts them into electricity, much like how a solar panel uses sunlight to generate power. This mechanism allows the battery to create energy continuously, as long as the radioactive element remains active—which, as it turns out, is a very long time.
Here’s where the longevity of the diamond battery becomes truly astonishing: Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 years. That means even after five millennia, the battery would still have half of its power left. Compare this to the lithium-ion battery in your smartphone, which might last a couple of years before it needs replacing, and the difference is night and day.
This kind of durability could make the diamond battery indispensable in situations where replacing a power source is impractical—or outright impossible.
“This technology is particularly suitable for places you can’t access,” said Stephen Wheeler from the UK Atomic Energy Authority. “If it’s in space, or sub-sea, or you don’t want to access it because it’s in a hazardous environment.”
Picture deep-space probes exploring the outer reaches of our solar system, powered by diamond batteries that don’t need replacement for millennia. Or devices in the ocean’s depths, monitoring ecosystems without the need for human intervention. It could also be a game-changer for medical technology, powering pacemakers, hearing aids, and even implants in the eye—delivering reliable energy without the need for surgery to swap batteries.
Environmental Benefits
Beyond its technological marvels, the diamond battery shines as an environmentally friendly option. When its power eventually runs out—centuries down the line—it can be sent back to the manufacturer for recycling. Engineers can incinerate the battery, reclaim the Carbon-14, and reuse it in new batteries.
Fatimha Sanni, a Senior Process Engineer, highlighted this eco-friendly aspect: “It literally gives us no waste at all—one of the reasons it’s good for the planet.”
This could address one of the biggest challenges we face today: battery waste. According to estimates, the world discards nearly 3 billion batteries each year, many of which end up polluting the environment.
The diamond battery is just the beginning. Researchers at the University of Bristol are now experimenting with other radioactive materials to create batteries that are even more powerful. Their goal? To scale the technology so that it becomes commercially viable within this century.
While the diamond battery might seem like a niche product for now, its potential to disrupt industries is immense. From space exploration to medical advancements, and from reducing waste to tackling energy sustainability, this technology could leave a lasting impact on humanity.
“This is one area where you feel you’re actually making a positive impact,” Wheeler remarked. And it’s hard to disagree. The diamond battery represents a rare blend of scientific ingenuity, environmental consciousness, and sheer practicality.
As scientists refine and scale this technology, we might soon live in a world where the idea of “charging” a device becomes as outdated as winding a clock. For now, though, the diamond battery is a dazzling reminder of what’s possible when science meets imagination.
