Nanomaterial turns radiation into electricity

Nuclear power usually generates electricity by heating water and making steam rotate turbines. Thermoelectric materials were then used which generated electricity from the heat. Now new nano-materials are being developed which generate electricity by using radioactive decay rather than the heat. Scientists estimate that 20 times more power could be generated from from radioactive decay than from thermoelectric materials.They are conducting tests using layered tiles of carbon nanotubes packed with gold and surrounded by lithium hydride. Radioactive particles that slam into the gold push out a shower of high-energy electrons. They pass through carbon nanotubes and pass into the lithium hydride from where they move into electrodes, allowing current to flow.
It is a very efficient system and will probably be one of the ideas which get us closer to unlimited energy. If this happens we could see entire countries run off one nuclear power plant if they use the right system to generate electricity. Radioactive waste will also be reduced which would be another huge positive of these new developments. The main problem with nuclear energy apart from the danger involved in some instances is the amount of waste which must be disposed of as all the nuclear radiation is used for is to heat water to generate steam whereas if we were to use the radioactive decay we could use the full electricity generating potential of the radioactive substance. Here's hoping!