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A Chinese startup has created a compact nuclear battery, about the size of a coin, with the capability to operate for up to 50 years without requiring recharging.

Writer's picture: RISHI KORDERISHI KORDE

Updated: Jan 19, 2024




A Chinese startup, Betavolt, claims to have developed a nuclear battery the size of a coin that can generate electricity for 50 years without the need for charging. The BV100 battery utilizes a decaying radioactive isotope of nickel (Ni-63) and features single-crystal diamond semiconductor sheets between the layers of Ni-63. Betavolt asserts that the technology is ahead of European and American scientific research, emphasizing its ability to store 3300-megawatt hours with an energy density over 10 times that of conventional lithium batteries. Despite its small size (151515 millimetres), the battery output is relatively low at 100 microwatts and 3 volts, making it insufficient to directly charge devices like smartphones. The company recommends using BV100 in series or parallel combinations to power devices. Betavolt claims the battery is safe, with no external radiation, and envisions potential use in medical devices like pacemakers and artificial hearts. The BV100 is currently in the pilot stage, and the company plans to move it into mass production pending regulatory approval. Betavolt envisions applications ranging from perpetual mobile phone power to continuous drone flight if policies allow the widespread use of atomic energy batteries.


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