“Nuclear batteries can provide long-lasting power to pacemakers, sensors embedded in buildings and bridges, and even planetary rovers. While the technology has existed for decades, recent advances mean that many research organisations and companies are now exploring a range of new opportunities to grow the batteries’ use in commercial applications. These micronuclear devices harness the energy released during the natural decay of radioactive isotopes, but are much smaller than any nuclear reactor. In general, nuclear batteries produce just microwatts or even nanowatts of electricity. ‘The level of power these things can produce is way, way lower than if you’re [splitting] the atom,’ says Michael Rushton, a materials scientist at Bangor University in the UK. Nevertheless, this small – yet reliable – energy output still makes them suitable for certain applications like powering sensors, especially under extreme temperatures or in locations with no available sunlight. The long lifespan of these batteries is another advantage, ranging from decades to hundreds of years or more.” (Chemistry World)