A Chinese startup, BetaVolt, has developed a groundbreaking Nuclear Batteries that it claims can power a smartphone for 50 years without the need for a battery. The technology of the battery involves converting the energy that decaying isotopes emit into electricity. The startup has started pilot testing and is planning to mass produce the battery for commercial applications like smartphones and drones.
Nuclear Batteries are Coming to the Market.
BetaVolt, in its press release, stated, “Our nuclear power batteries can meet the long-term power supply needs in many scenarios such as AI equipment, aerospace, advanced sensors, medical devices, microprocessors, micro-robots, and small drones.” The company believes that this power innovation will give China a competitive advantage in the new era of AI technology.
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How will the size of the Nuclear Batteries?
The battery that Primary Atomic Betavolt Developed provides 100 Microwatts of power and has a voltage of 3V, measuring just a tiny 15x15x5 cubic millimeters. The company is planning to produce a battery with 1 watt power by 2025. The small size of these batteries allows the connection of multiple units, thereby increasing the power output. BetaVolt envisions a future where mobile phones will never need charging and drones can fly indefinitely.
The design of the battery also ensures safety. BetaVolt asserts that the layered structure of their batteries prevents them from catching fire or exploding when subjected to sudden force. Additionally, the battery can operate within a wide temperature range from -60°C to 120°C.
To create this revolutionary battery, scientists at BetaVolt used the radioactive element nickel-63 as an energy source and converted the energy using diamond semiconductors. The team produced a thin single-crystal diamond semiconductor, just 10 microns thick, and put a 2-micron-thick nickel-63 sheet between two diamond semiconductor converters.
Radiation Problems on Nuclear Batteries
BetaVolt guarantees that their batteries are safe, with no External Radiation. They state that the batteries are suitable for use in medical devices inside the human body, such as pacemakers and cochlear implants.
After decay, the 63 isotope becomes a stable copper isotope, posing no environmental risks. They are safe, not flammable, and do not explode in high temperatures. Initially explored by the Soviet Union and the United States for space, underwater systems, and scientific stations, these batteries were expensive and heavy. China has since worked to make them smaller and marketable. Unlike traditional Li-ion batteries, devices powered by nuclear batteries have continuous operation without capacity or lifespan degradation. This technology will revolutionize electronics, enabling drones, phones, and electric cars to operate without frequent recharging.