Thursday, June 19, 2008
Technology - Light Source Lasts 12 Years
Science marches on.
I'm not quite sure about the radioactive part.
I guess we'll have to wait and see...
I'm not quite sure about the radioactive part.
I guess we'll have to wait and see...
Lisa Zyga reported this at physorg.com late last year:
"A company called MPK is designing a light source that will glow continuously for more than 12 years without any additional energy.
The material, dubbed 'Litrosphere,' can cover a standard sheet of paper for a cost of about 35 cents, and comes in a variety of colors. It's also flexible, and can take the form of either paint or injection-molded plastic. The material is not affected by the heat or cold, can withstand 5,000 pounds, and stays on constantly.
According to the company's patent, the material is based on betavoltaics and uses the radioactive gas tritium as the power source. The beta particles from the tritium radiation can be safely contained by phosphor-coated microspheres. Tritium has a half-life of about 12 years."
