Word: promethium
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Dates: during 1957-1957
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...battery's power comes from promethium 147 (one of the more plentiful byproducts of nuclear fission), which emits low-energy beta particles (electrons). Other atomic batteries have attempted to turn beta particles directly into electric current, but they have often run into trouble because the particles damage the current-yielding parts of the battery. The Kidde-Elgin battery sidesteps this difficulty by mixing the promethium 147 with a phosphor (light-giving substance) and enclosing the mixture in transparent plastic. Electrons from the Pm-147 make the phosphor glow, and its light is turned into electricity by a photoelectric surface...
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