# Is it feasible to convert the energy of gamma-photons from gamma-emitting nuclear isomers into electrical power?

It is known that gamma rays emitted by nuclear isomers, naturally occurring or manufactured, carry huge amounts of energy. Co-60 for example decays into the isomeric state of Ni-60 by $\beta ^-$ emission (plus the neutrino). Ni-60 then emits two $\gamma-$photons of energy $E_{\gamma_1}=1.333$ MeV and $E_{\gamma_2}=1.173$ MeV, a total of about 2.5 MeV, and attains its ground state. This amount of energy from a single decay event, is about $10^6$ times the energy in a single event in a conventional battery!

The question is: Can we utilise this amount of energy, by combining appropriate scintillators and photovoltaic cells in order to convert that energy into electrical power? Arguments for and against will be appreciated.

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Thank you for the reply. What about using the $\gamma$-photons directly, after perhaps first down-grading their high energy? Let us say I am interested in converting their energy using photovoltaic cells. No existing semiconductor material will do this!! As for the "single event" I was just making reference to a chemical reaction in the cell. – JKL Feb 13 '13 at 13:10
Do you mean a liquid, or a transparent (like plastic) scintillator, so that there will be several thousands of lower energy photons available to reach the photovoltaic cell? Do you think this could be feasible for large scale electric power production? There is plenty of $\gamma$ emitting nuclear waist waiting to find some good use. – JKL Feb 15 '13 at 9:57