Bristol research shows the potential value of using nuclear waste to generate energy using diamond batteries.
Last night we hosted a public lecture showcasing the diamond battery technology developed at the University of Bristol. This was presented by our Director for Science Professor Tom Scott, who had just returned from fieldwork in Fukushima. The lecture was entitled 'Diamonds are Forever' to signify the battery's potential to be an energy source over thousands of years.
Unique opportunity for the UK
One of Professor Scott's key messages was that this technology was a unique opportunity for the UK. The source material for the diamond, carbon-14, is plentiful in this country from the 95,000 tonnes of waste graphite blocks used in decommissioned nuclear power plants. Therefore this also has the possibility to change public perception about the nuclear industry; if waste materials can be used for public benefit the case for nuclear power becomes stronger.
The UK has a real opportunity to generate value from nuclear waste @proftbs @NuclearInst #diamondbattery pic.twitter.com/Sthx9KwzB9
— South West Nuclear Hub (@SWNuclearHub) November 15, 2017
Lecture Available on YouTube
This public lecture was livestreamed, and is now available on demand on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G-NhL9Tz4I
Public engagement with the technology remains high
The lecture was followed by an extensive Q&A session with members of the audience. This was a real demonstration of the engagement that has been seen online during the past year, for example on Twitter with #diamondbattery. The event attracted a diverse audience from senior academics to industry professionals to the general public.
Media coverage highlights
We recently collated the media coverage highlights of the Diamond Battery technology. There has been extensive, worldwide attention since the announcement of the research developments were made public in late 2016. This includes over two million views of the explanatory video and a Twitter campaign using #diamondbattery.