From daily news and career tips to monthly insights on AI, sustainability, software, and more—pick what matters and get it in your inbox.
Access expert insights, exclusive content, and a deeper dive into engineering and innovation all with fewer ads or a completely ad-free experience.
All Rights Reserved, IE Media, Inc.
Follow Us On
Access expert insights, exclusive content, and a deeper dive into engineering and innovation all with fewer ads or a completely ad-free experience.
All Rights Reserved, IE Media, Inc.
Double M Innovations has built a tiny tritium solar cell sandwich that turns internal radiation into measurable electricity.
A recent experiment by Double M Innovations shows how a simple setup can turn radioactive decay into usable electricity. The project combines tritium vials with small solar cells to create a compact, self-contained nuclear power source.
While the output remains extremely small, the test highlights a novel way to produce steady energy without sunlight or external input.
The device works by using tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen often found in glow-in-the-dark products. As the material decays over time, it emits low-energy electrons. These electrons strike a phosphor layer inside sealed glass tubes, producing a constant green glow.
Instead of relying on sunlight, the system uses this glow as its energy source. Amorphous solar cells are placed directly against the vials. These cells are sensitive to low light and can convert the faint glow into electricity, much like they do in dim indoor conditions.
To make the system more efficient, the entire unit is sealed tightly with aluminum tape. This prevents outside light from entering and ensures that only the internally generated glow is used for power generation.
The construction process of the nuclear battery is simple and uses widely available parts. Two small amorphous solar cells, similar to those found in calculators, form the main structure of the device.
Between these cells, five tritium vials are placed in a row. Each vial measures about 0.12 inches (3 mm) in diameter and roughly 0.43 inches (11 mm) in length. Once arranged, the second solar cell is placed on top, creating a compact layered structure.
The interior is coated with a reflective material to maximize light use. The entire assembly is then wrapped and sealed. The design avoids soldering and complex wiring, making it quick to assemble once all parts are available.
After building the device, testing began using a standard multimeter. Each solar cell produced between 0.45 and 0.47 volts. However, the current output was extremely low and difficult to detect directly.
To improve measurement, the cells were connected in series and paired with a small capacitor. This allowed the system to store charge over time instead of relying on instant output.
The results showed a gradual increase in voltage. After 10 minutes, the capacitor reached 2.2 volts. After one hour, it rose to 2.4 volts. By the end of the night, it reached 2.9 volts without any external energy input.
Despite the steady increase in voltage, the overall power remains very low. The system operates in the nanowatt range, which is far below the level needed to power an LED or run small electronics for extended periods.
However, the concept has one major advantage. Tritium has a half-life of about 12 years, meaning it can continue producing energy for a long time before its output declines significantly.
Commercial nuclear batteries are far more efficient because they precisely align radioactive materials with energy-harvesting components. This improves energy conversion and output.
This homemade version serves as a proof-of-concept. It demonstrates that a measurable electric current can be generated using simple, off-the-shelf materials and internal radiation.
A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.
Exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits.
Exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits.
Premium
Follow

source