This time, when the group irradiates an inexpensive aqueous dispersion of iron oxide (magnetite) nanoparticles (a dispersion of magnetite particles with a particle size of several nanometers in water) with gamma rays, iron oxide takes in electrons and reduces them. It is said that he discovered that it would be done.Therefore, we found that when an electrode was installed in this dispersion, iron oxide nanoparticles were collected near the electrode on one side by bringing a magnet close to it, and then the anode and cathode were connected by wiring, electricity flowed between the two electrodes. did.

　Analysis of the iron at the end of the discharge revealed that the iron reduced by gamma-ray irradiation was reoxidized.When the research group irradiated gamma rays again to reduce iron oxide and performed the same operation, electricity could be passed again.In other words, it was clarified that electricity can be repeatedly extracted by a simple system in which an aqueous dispersion of iron oxide fine particles is irradiated with gamma rays and magnets are moved closer to or further away from each other.

　For example, if this mechanism is incorporated into the spent nuclear fuel storage facility of a nuclear power plant, it will be possible to generate electricity using the gamma rays generated from the spent nuclear fuel.This is an epoch-making idea to convert electromagnetic waves generated from radioactive waste in nuclear power plants, which are currently unused, into electricity as an energy source.

　The group will file a patent application for this technology and accelerate research toward its practical application.

reference:[Chubu University] Developed a simple method to generate electricity from radiation-Gamma rays from spent nuclear fuel can also be used as an energy source- (Professor Kaname Tsutsumi, Professor Shinichi Hashimoto, etc.)