• MIT’s photonic crystals lead towards nuclear batteries everywhere
    68 replies, posted
[B]SOURCE:[/B] [URL="http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/116853-mits-photonic-crystals-lead-towards-a-nuclear-reactor-in-every-gadget/"]www.extremetech.com/extreme/116853-mits-photonic-crystals-lead-towards-a-nuclear-reactor-in-every-gadget/[/URL] [release] [IMG]http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/tungsten-photonic-crystal-348x196.jpg[/IMG] Researchers at MIT have developed photonic crystals that, in as little as two years, could enable the use of hydrocarbon reactors in portable electronic devices, and nuclear power sources everywhere else. Photonic crystals are optical nanostructures that are tuned to specific wavelengths of light. If you understand how semiconductors affect the motion of electrons (i.e. the bandgap only allows electrons with a certain energy level to pass through), photonic crystals are the optical equivalent. In this case, MIT has created infrared-absorbing photonic crystals using metals such as tungsten and titanium. Because of their metallic roots, these photonic crystals can operate at temperatures up to 1200C (2192F). You can probably see where this is going. Basically, every object that is warmer than absolute zero emits electromagnetic radiation — and the hotter it gets, the higher the frequency of that radiation. Once an object becomes red or white hot, some 99% of the radiation produced is infrared. MIT’s photonic crystals are perfectly tuned to absorb infrared radiation, and they can survive high temperatures. This captured energy can then be converted into electricity. [URL="http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator_plutonium_pellet.jpg"][IMG]http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator_plutonium_pellet-300x236.jpg[/IMG][/URL]As far as suitable heat sources go, they’re a dime a dozen. As it stands, many of NASA’s deep space missions — Pioneer, Viking, Cassini-Huygens, [URL="http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/89016-meet-nasas-next-mars-rover-curiosity-it-has-a-plutonium-powered-laser"]the Curiosity Mars rover[/URL] — use radioisotope thermal generators, which generate heat from the decay of radioactive material (usually plutonium, pictured right). Currently, a thermocouple is used to create electricity from the heat, but thermocouples are incredibly inefficient (they max out at around 10%). These photonic crystals would be more efficient (and MIT is already talking to NASA about it). Looking towards the future, MIT’s photonic crystals could offer an alternative to [URL="http://www.extremetech.com/tag/solar-power"]photovoltaic panels[/URL]or [URL="http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/111957-portable-fuel-cells-arrive-will-your-next-battery-be-a-water-fountain"]fuel cells[/URL]. Any source of heat could be turned into electricity, without the need for turbines or any other moving parts. According to MIT researcher Ivan Celanovic, for a given weight and size, a microreactor that burns butane and uses photonic crystals could last 10 times longer than existing battery technology. If you’re not comfortable with having a reactor in your pocket, though, the photonic crystals could be used to simply capture waste heat, much like the [URL="http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/87680-new-alloy-turns-waste-heat-into-electricity-for-free"]University of Minnesota multiferroic alloy[/URL] or [URL="http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/101497-magnetic-ram-could-soon-absorb-and-use-waste-heat"]German magnetic RAM[/URL] that we covered last year. The best bit, though, is that MIT is confident that this technology could be brought to market in as little as two years. Photonic crystals are actually quite mature tech; the actual [I]meat[/I] of this discovery is that they’ve found a way to cheaply mass-produce rugged crystals that can operate at high temperatures. This technology is [I]coming[/I]. Read more at [URL="http://www.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/nanophotonics-0203.html"]MIT[/URL] [/release] Some objects emit infrared radiation that only photonic crystals can catch. We can also convert that radioation into electricity.
But can you smoke it?
Maybe they can use it to make a smart phone battery that lasts for 1 whole day
[QUOTE=Milkie;34561702] Some objects emit infrared radiation that only photonic crystals can catch. We can also convert that radioation into electricity.[/QUOTE] No, it doesn't convert radioactivity into electricity. Radioactive material heats up when it decays, thus you only convert the heat radiation to electricity.
Say I leave it on charge for too long, will I end up with some excess nuclear fallout or not? Answers, damn-it.
[QUOTE=DesolateGrun;34561801]Maybe they can use it to make a smart phone battery that lasts for 1 whole day[/QUOTE] I wouldn't get too optimistic there.
So that is the most awesome thing I've read all week I'd say. The future is now.
[QUOTE=DrLuke;34561892]No, it doesn't convert radioactivity into electricity.[/quote] He never said that?
So would these work in conjunction with solar panels so that they capture the light and heat of the sun? Another cool idea would for people who live off the grid and have wood stoves, put a bunch of these behind the stoves and make electricity while heating up your home.
I don't get it. I understand the value this has for IR, VL and probably UV, but why not X-rays or Gamma rays? Those are all around, chop full of energy, and harmful if not contained.
That hunk of plutonium looks like candy I want to lick it
I love science
I'm not sure if carrying a nuclear reactor in your pocket is safe...
[QUOTE=macerator;34562138]I don't get it. I understand the value this has for IR, VL and probably UV, but why not X-rays or Gamma rays? Those are all around, chop full of energy, and harmful if not contained.[/QUOTE] Gamma is too short of wavelengths to be captured by most things, hell they can't even be reflected by mirrors. Making a crystal that captures them would be insanely difficult, and probably pretty large. X-rays also, to a lesser extent though. And in total, there's probably less energy from them, since infrared radiation is so much more abundant. [QUOTE=NotMeh;34562516]I'm not sure if carrying a nuclear reactor in your pocket is safe...[/QUOTE] It says in the article, probably burn butane for heat instead of nuclear decay for those applications.
[QUOTE=NotMeh;34562516]I'm not sure if carrying a nuclear reactor in your pocket is safe...[/QUOTE] Ehhhh who cares, life is short as it is, carry a chunk or two! :v:
Nuclear Batteries? ...[t]http://images.wikia.com/fallout/images/5/5b/Protectron.png[/t] And then I actually read the article.
[QUOTE=Etcetera;34562663]Nuclear Batteries? ...[protectron] And then I actually read the article.[/QUOTE] The image that popped into my mind was the cars using small nuclear reactors. But it seems to be more related to IR than ionising radiation. For small appliances at least.
[img]http://imgkk.com/i/wkyw.jpg[/img]
America could speed up technological innovation by a shit load if they made MIT and DARPA compete to see who can invent the most mindblowing thing, with a hundred million dollars of funding as the prize every quarter.
And then the new, exciting world-changing technology dissapeared into obscurity never to be seen or heard of again.
[QUOTE=Rents;34563194]America could speed up technological innovation by a shit load if they made MIT and DARPA compete to see who can invent the most mindblowing thing, with a hundred million dollars of funding as the prize every quarter.[/QUOTE] Are you insane? So much oil right there waiting for us, can't waste money on science!
[QUOTE=DrLuke;34561892]No, it doesn't convert radioactivity into electricity. Radioactive material heats up when it decays, thus you only convert the heat radiation to electricity.[/QUOTE] Yeah, you need a betavoltaic for that. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betavoltaic[/url]
This is some cool shit. Though I think the "leading towards nuclear batteries everywhere," is a bit of a sensationalist over-exaggeration. Unless I am severely misreading this, I see these crystals as more of a booster to existing energy production, increasing net efficiency. The way I read it, these crystals allow us to capture and convert some of the IR radiation that's a by-product of heat generation, which has been previously useless for electricity generation. Am I mistaken?
[QUOTE=Gmod4ever;34564130]This is some cool shit. Though I think the "leading towards nuclear batteries everywhere," is a bit of a sensationalist over-exaggeration. Unless I am severely misreading this, I see these crystals as more of a booster to existing energy production, increasing net efficiency. The way I read it, these crystals allow us to capture and convert some of the IR radiation that's a by-product of heat generation, which has been previously useless for electricity generation. Am I mistaken?[/QUOTE] Yeah. What if third world countries got their hands on them...It's scary to think that they might become industrialized.
EDIT: Can't believe I missed the satire.
[QUOTE=Nikota;34564201]Yeah. What if third world countries got their hands on them...It's scary to think that they might become industrialized.[/QUOTE] [b]ZIMBABWEAN CARPET BOMBERS SPOTTED ON THE HORIZON, SIR![/b] It's hard to even imagine that. :v:
I can already see it now... "STOP THIS BEFORE WE HAVE NUCLEAR BOMBS AT OUR HOMES!"
[QUOTE=MendozaMan;34562155]That hunk of plutonium looks like candy I want to lick it[/QUOTE] Your tongue would melt from the heat alone, but by all means!
[QUOTE=Rents;34563194]America could speed up technological innovation by a shit load if they made MIT and DARPA compete to see who can invent the most mindblowing thing, with a hundred million dollars of funding as the prize every quarter.[/QUOTE] Actually, DARPA usually doesn't invent anything on it's own, it funds research by other companies/universities more often than not.
Wait, so let me get this straight. We can convert radiation-based heat into electricity? Couldn't we use that to, say, solve the energy crisis?
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