Japan's national nuclear research agency has unveiled what it claims is the world's first uranium-based rechargeable battery - a breakthrough that could open up new uses for vast stockpiles of depleted uranium. The battery, developed by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, successfully demonstrated charging and discharging capabilities using uranium as the core material to generate electricity.

The prototype, about the size of a small cup, uses a uranium-based electrolyte on the negative side and iron on the positive. With a 1.3V voltage comparable to that of a standard alkaline battery, the device maintained its performance over ten charge cycles, suggesting it is relatively stable in its current form.

That innovation could give a new purpose to the approximately 16,000 tons of depleted uranium stored in Japan and the estimated 1.6 million tons worldwide, which are currently unusable in regular nuclear reactors. Researchers also believe the battery could help store surplus electricity from renewable energy sources.

While promising, the uranium battery's practical use will likely remain restricted to radiation-controlled zones like nuclear facility sites. The agency plans to work on scaling up the technology by developing a redox flow version starting in fiscal 2025.

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