Saw this article about a new type of battery that they say is 2-3 years away. Runs cool and lasts very, very long.

Betavoltaic Battery What do our resident scientists think about this?

Scientists Invent 30 Year Continuous Power Laptop Battery

Your next laptop could have a continuous power battery that lasts for 30 years without a single recharge thanks to work being funded by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. The breakthrough betavoltaic power cells are constructed from semiconductors and use radioisotopes as the energy source. As the radioactive material decays it emits beta particles that transform into electric power capable of fueling an electrical device like a laptop for years.

 

Although betavoltaic batteries sound Nuclear they're not, they neither use fission/fusion or chemical processes to produce energy and so (do not produce any radioactive or hazardous waste). Betavoltaics generate power when an electron strikes a particular interface between two layers of material. The Process uses beta electron emissions that occur when a neutron decays into a proton which causes a forward bias in the semiconductor. This makes the betavoltaic cell a forward bias diode of sorts, similar in some respects to a photovoltaic (solar) cell. Electrons scatter out of their normal orbits in the semiconductor and into the circuit creating a usable electric current.

 

The profile of the batteries can be quite small and thin, a porous silicon material is used to collect the hydrogen isotope tritium which is generated in the process. The reaction is non-thermal which means laptops and other small devices like mobile phones will run much cooler than with traditional lithium-ion power batteries. The reason the battery lasts so long is that neutron beta-decay into protons is the world's most concentrated source of electricity, truly demonstrating Einstein's theory E=MC2.

 

The best part about these cells are when they eventually run out of power they are totally inert and non-toxic, so environmentalists need not fear these high tech scientific wonder batteries. If all goes well plans are for these cells to reach store shelves in about 2 to 3 years.

Edited October 8, 200718 yr by vandy125

someone is going to be pissed...

 

I will believe it when I see it. As of now, I'd be happy to get 6 hours out of a battery.

Now if they could only invent an operating system that lasted 30 minutes without crashing...

Now if they could only invent an operating system that lasted 30 minutes without crashing...

 

Is that what your wife is calling it? An operating system?

Is that what your wife is calling it? An operating system?

 

Yeah, but that's only because PA finally had enough of her calling it his micro floppy. . .

 

And not enough RAM . . .

at least I don't take it in the I/O port lik you, Jim....

 

and while may be new to the game, compared to you two outdated "machines," I'm a G4 Mac and you're apple IIe's

at least I don't take it in the I/O port lik you, Jim....

 

and while may be new to the game, compared to you two outdated "machines," I'm a G4 Mac and you're apple IIe's

 

nice.