According to an article in New Scientist, materials that directly convert radiation into electricity could produce a new era of spacecraft and even Earth-based vehicles powered by high-powered nuclear batteries, say US researchers. . . .
The materials they are testing would extract up to 20 times more power from radioactive decay than thermoelectric materials, they calculate. . . .
Tests of layered tiles of carbon nanotubes packed with gold and surrounded by lithium hydride are under way. . . .
The tiles would be best used to create electricity using a radioactive material, says Liviu Popa-Simil, former Los Alamos National Laboratory nuclear engineer and founder of private research and development company LAVM , because they could be embedded directly where radiation is greatest. But they could also harvest power directly from a fission reactor's radiation.
Devices based on the material could be small enough to power anything from interplanetary probes to aircraft and land vehicles, he adds.
Its been over 2 years since this article was written. In the article it says that tests are under way. Have we got any results from these tests yet?
Posted by: Generators For Home Use | January 12, 2011 at 04:09 AM
The same had occurred to me.
I'm off on a search of more recent threads now to see if the results are else where.
Posted by: DC Dyson | January 21, 2011 at 11:58 AM
I am slightly confused as to the status of this thread and indeed the entire Frazer Domain.
Is it active or not?
I hope the answer is yes.
Posted by: Generac | January 21, 2011 at 12:35 PM
"Devices based on the material could be small enough to power anything from interplanetary probes to aircraft and land vehicles."
Am I the only one who thinks this guy has been smoking something he shouldn't have been!
Posted by: Brother PC | January 21, 2011 at 07:03 PM
Oh if only this were reality,
but unfortunately we're a little way off as yet.
Posted by: Brother PC | January 24, 2011 at 05:54 AM
I know I'm not a scientist but this all sounds a little sci-fi to me.
Posted by: Best Jump Starter | February 09, 2011 at 08:10 AM
The mass vehicle application seems a bit curious. There will be concerns over safety and proliferation, and whether or not these are rational, it will make mass vehicle applications a non-starter.
Posted by: buy dissertation online | February 14, 2011 at 02:17 PM
If somebody wants to turn radiation directly into electricity - it's very good idea!!
Posted by: ProTok | March 08, 2011 at 11:10 AM
This article still up to date? I don't know if I can vogue for this information.
Posted by: gn netcom wireless headset | May 26, 2011 at 11:43 AM
This is an amazing article. I love the idea and I believe this give us a closer look on the author’s life. It is inspiring to do the same thing
Posted by: Medical-x-ray | June 07, 2011 at 02:24 AM
I'm still waiting on this piece being updated.
Posted by: Brother CS6000i | August 16, 2011 at 09:40 AM
Am I the only one who - whilst wishing this were true - finds it a little far fetched?
Posted by: Dojo | August 20, 2011 at 04:49 PM
I agree with the comments above.
I'd like to know what the situation is in 2011.
As it is the article reads like something from Jules Verne.
Posted by: Portable Generators | August 31, 2011 at 06:33 PM
I agree with you. This type of projects should be encouraged and I think that these type of projects are the projects for the future. . . . .
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You are great! But I still did good! Hey!
Posted by: Office 2010 | October 26, 2011 at 10:00 PM
As Generac above I'd like to know what is the status of the Frazer domain.
And as Generac I sincerely hope the answer is all is well and very much alive.
Posted by: Digi | October 29, 2011 at 06:52 PM
Fascinating that this could not only operate vehicles but spacecraft as well!
Posted by: Therapist New York | November 16, 2011 at 07:22 PM
How is this testing going, I'll have to check out New Scientist, sounds informative. Not as great as your site I'm sure. :)
Posted by: Rug Cleaning Los Angeles | November 16, 2011 at 07:34 PM
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Posted by: Nanoparticles | December 20, 2011 at 02:03 AM