Re: reliable, long-term supply chain of plutonium-238 At present (2003), there are some 100 people in the US who have nuclear powered pacemakers. When one of these individuals dies, the pacemaker is supposed to be removed and shipped to Los Alamos where the plutonium will be recovered.
Re: reliable, long-term supply chain of plutonium-238 Oh yes, Courtney. I once pondered if betavoltaics could power everyday homes, and cars, etc? It looks like something that will never see the light of day. Plut would not be the optimal material, and I have wondered if alpha-voltaics might be safer and equally effective. Alpha-voltaics probably will not be needed, if and when we get perovskite cells out got mass public use, it will look like old-timers proposing steam powered robots.
Re: reliable, long-term supply chain of plutonium-238 The presense and risk of such batteries was brought to my attention for the first time by Michael Crichton, in his "The Terminal Man" novel:
It does a good job of explaining neurological facts, and lots of other things - including the idea of a brain pacemaker - which is where I first read actual facts about such batteries.
A bit more to them than a really, really long lasting battery.
Including having to wear a neclace warning emergency responders that:
"Hey, FYI - if ya cut this guy open and accidentally cut into the battery - ya may die of cancer. Just sayin!"
Thats one of the novels I re-read every 6, 7 years or so.