The national nuclear research and development institution in Japan claims to have created the world’s first rechargeable battery using uranium. This innovation could potentially utilize large quantities of radioactive materials produced during the nuclear fuel production process.
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency reported that the research team verified the charging and discharging capabilities of a battery utilizing uranium as an "active material" for inducing a chemical reaction and producing power.
The uranium utilized in the research possessed identical chemical characteristics to those of depleted uranium, which is derived from the process of refining natural uranium for use as nuclear fuel. Presently, this depleted uranium is not suitable for usage as fuel in standard reactors.
The institute stated in a press release that these findings are anticipated to offer a fresh utility value to depleted uranium, highlighting the battery’s promise in managing excess power produced from sustainable sources.
The battery measures 10 centimeters wide and 5 centimeters tall, utilizing a uranium-based solution as the negative electrode and an iron-based solution for the positive electrode. In its initial version, this power source produced approximately 1.3 volts, which is nearly equivalent to the typical output of a regular alkaline battery at 1.5 volts.
After being charged and discharged 10 times, the battery showed minimal changes in performance, suggesting its relatively stable nature, according to the institute.
If uranium-based rechargeable batteries were developed and implemented on a larger scale, they might assist in utilizing approximately 16,000 tons of depleted uranium stockpiled in Japan and around 1.6 million tons globally, as stated by the institute.
In an effort to boost the battery’s capacity, the organization intends to begin developing a "redox flow battery" utilizing pump-driven electrolyte circulation, with efforts scheduled to start in fiscal year 2025 or thereafter.
Nonetheless, the placement of the battery is anticipated to be restricted to radiation-regulated zones like those found within nuclear power plants.
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