Two Nigerian engineers, Eseosa Ekanem and Fatimah Sanni, have contributed to the creation of the world’s first diamond battery, a revolutionary power source capable of lasting thousands of years. Both engineers, who are Senior Engineers at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), played key roles in developing this cutting-edge technology.
The diamond battery mimics the function of solar panels, converting radiation into electricity. With a half-life of over 5,000 years, the battery retains 50% power even after millennia, making it suitable for applications in extreme environments such as space, deep-sea exploration, and even medical devices like pacemakers and implants.
Sanni highlighted the environmental benefits, noting, “These batteries create no waste. Used batteries can be returned, incinerated, and the carbon-14 recaptured for reuse.”
This innovation is poised to be a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional alkaline and lithium batteries.
Eseosa Ekanem has worked at the UKAEA for over three years, contributing her expertise as a Research and Development Engineer. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Covenant University, a Master’s in Advanced Process Engineering from Loughborough University, and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London.
Fatimah Sanni, a Tritium Engineer at the UKAEA since 2017, is also a former employee of ExxonMobil. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Manchester before joining the UKAEA.
Working in a lab in Oxfordshire, the team combined the strength of synthetic diamonds with the energy potential of radioactive carbon-14, a material known for its long half-life. Explaining the innovation, Ekanem said, “These batteries are made from lab-grown diamonds infused with carbon-14, which emits fast-moving electrons during decay. The diamond absorbs the radiation, ensuring the battery is both safe and efficient.”
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