EMG Webinar: Focus on Diamond Batteries
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The preliminary title of the presentation will be: Recycling moderator graphite into diamond betavoltaics
Abstract:
The next generation of nuclear power reactors will be fast spectrum type, which means there is no future use for the 40,000 m³ of graphite moderator blocks that reside in Magnox and AGR reactors. Once disassembled, this large inventory of irradiated graphite will become available for other applications. Of particular interest is radiocarbon (C-14), which is formed by neutron capture of the 1% C-13 present in natural carbon, or by transmutation of N-14 in the form of nitrogen impurities. Radiocarbon has many applications as tracer isotope in healthcare, but one of the most intriguing ones is its use as a material to grow artificial radioactive diamonds. Intrinsic monocrystalline diamond is not only one of the strongest materials, it also happens to be a semiconductor material. Diamonds grown of radiocarbon can thus be turned into diamond betavoltaics, power cells with a half-life of 5,730 years and endless opportunities for structural health monitoring or space exploration. In this talk, Dr. ing. Yannick Verbelen covers the ongoing work at the University of Bristol to extract value from graphite moderator blocks, and turn them into high-tech semiconductor power cells.