Chinese company claims to have developed a nuclear battery that can last 50 years without recharging.

A Chinese start-up company, Betavolt Technology, has announced that it has developed a nuclear battery that can power devices for up to 50 years without the need for recharging. The company says that its battery is the first to achieve the miniaturization of atomic energy production, fitting 63 nuclear isotopes into a module smaller than a coin.

The nuclear battery, named BV100, uses a combination of a nickel-63 radioactive isotope and a fourth-generation diamond semiconductor. The battery harnesses the energy released by the nuclear decay of the isotope and converts it into electricity. The company claims that the battery has a power output of 100 microwatts and 3 volts, and that it can operate safely under extreme temperatures, from -76 to 248 Fº (-60 to 120 degrees Celsius). The battery is also resistant to punctures and gunfire without catching fire or exploding.

Betavolt Technology says that its nuclear battery could enable devices like smartphones, drones, medical devices, microprocessors, advanced sensors, and micro-robots to run continuously without the degradation of battery capacity and lifespan over charging cycles, as seen in conventional Li-ion batteries. The company also says that its battery has no external radiation and poses no environmental threat, as the radioactive isotopes transform into a stable, non-radioactive isotope of copper after the decay period.

The company is currently conducting pilot testing of its nuclear battery, and plans to mass-produce it by the end of this year. It also aims to introduce a 1 watt version of the battery next year, which could be used for applications like automotive technology and AI systems. The company envisions its atomic energy batteries being utilized in various fields, such as aerospace, military, and health care, positioning China at the forefront of the AI technological revolution.

The nuclear battery technology is based on the principle of isotope technology, first proposed in 1913 by British physicist Henry Moseley. It captures the energy from the nuclear decay of radioactive elements, which is a spontaneous process in which isotopes emit radiation, leading to more stable new atoms. Scientists encapsulate these isotopes, converting the energy emitted into usable electrical power. The lifespan of a nuclear battery correlates with the half-life of the isotope used as its energy source. For instance, the half-life of nickel-63 is about 100 years, whereas potassium-40 is around 1.3 billion years.

The development of the nuclear battery by Betavolt Technology has attracted attention from both the scientific community and the general public, as it could potentially revolutionize the field of energy and electronics. However, some experts have also raised questions about the safety, reliability, and feasibility of the nuclear battery, as well as the ethical and legal implications of using nuclear technology for civilian purposes. The company says that it has obtained the necessary approvals and certifications from the relevant authorities, and that it will continue to improve its technology and products to meet the market demand and customer expectations.

https://www.deccanherald.com/world/chinese-firm-develops-nuclear-battery-capable-of-producing-power-for-50-years-without-charging-2851063

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