Scientists have been trying to convert nuclear waste into batteries that could last for thousands of years, and researchers at the University of Bristol have already been able to develop and test diamond batteries that use energy from radioactive materials, and they now hope to recycle waste from parked nuclear power plants across the UK.
Work began earlier this month to remove radioactive waste from the Berkeley Power Station in Gloucestershire (southwest England), which was shut down in 1989 but only finally became safe.
The carbon isotopes 14 (C14) extracted from the graphite blocks produced by the plant are saturated with thin slices of diamonds to make batteries, which researchers say are able to provide energy on an "almost infinite" basis.
Possible applications of these batteries range from operating hearing aids and pacemakers to getting spacecraft flying far beyond what is currently possible.
Diamond batteries are already being tested in extreme environments, as traditional energy sources, including sensors at the top of volcanoes, are difficult to replace.
"Ultimately, a very powerful version of a diamond battery can power a mobile phone," The Independent newspaper quoted James Parker of the University of Bristol's School of Engineering saying, "But in the first place, it is better for devices that require a long life, low power, and where It is difficult to replace energy sources. "
Diamond batteries are wrapped in a non-radioactive diamond layer that absorbs any radiation from the C14 source and makes it safe for use in medical and consumer devices.
There are close to 100,000 tons of nuclear waste in the form of graphite blocks in the UK alone, with most nuclear power plants expected to be shut down by 2030. Scientists hope to have a pilot plant that produces diamond batteries within five years.