Since all our gadgets require energy to run, there is a big demand for bigger batteries that last longer. Rumors say that we will see a new technology to produce betavoltaic batteries that will deliver continuous power for 30 years without the need to recharge. The project is supposedly financed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and so far we know that it uses semiconductors and radioisotopes that produce the energy.
To elaborate a little on betavoltaic batteries, it looks like power is generated from photons, only by using high energy electrons generated from the beta decay of certain radio-isotope. Apparently they will be using tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen, explains Rupert Goodwins, that will be well kept inside thanks to a shielding system. But what happens if you break the battery by mistake or not and have all those isotopes free? Don't think that's very good or at least don't count on me to use it.
The idea of a battery that will last for 30 years, or 10 as University of Rochester announced, is great and in theory so is the betavoltaic principle, but I don't think they will be able create something like that with or without nuclear power to be perfectly safe, any time soon. For a much more technical approach read Rupert Goodwins on "radioactive laptops? or not ...".
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