Betavolt Technology is a Beijing-based tech start-up that has developed a radioactive battery that can keep your phone charged for 50 years. Not only that, they are looking forward to manufacturing a 1-watt power battery by 2025 and envisioning a future where drones can fly forever.
Betavolt’s first nuclear battery uses the radioactive isotope Nickel 63 to generate 100 microwatts and a voltage of 3V, with dimensions less than that of a coin at 15x15x5 millimeters. This compact battery works by converting energy released through radioactive decay into electricity, a process that was first explored in the 20th century.
In a recent press release by the start-up company, they said “This new energy innovation will help China gain a leading edge in the new round of the AI technological revolution.”
The Design of Betavolt’s Radioactive Battery
The design of the radioactive battery supports series connection to produce more power and ensures safety as well. Its layered structure prevents it from catching fire or exploding in response to sudden force. Also, Betavolt claims that their radioactive battery is capable of working in a wide temperature range from -60 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius.
Betavolt has started pilot testing and the start-up plans to mass-produce the battery for various commercial purposes, including phones and drones. They speculated that the batteries can be used for aerospace, AI equipment, medical devices, advanced sensors, and even micro-robots.
How Betavolt’s Radioactive Battery Works
This start-up company uses nickel-63, a radioactive element as the energy source and a diamond semiconductor as the energy converter.
The team developed a single-crystal diamond semiconductor that is just 10 microns thick and then placed a 2-micron-thick nickel-63 sheet between two diamond semiconductor converters.
The decay energy of the radioactive source is then converted into an electrical current.
It is a DC power supply and can produce a pulse power supply with a higher lifespan by adding a supercapacitor as an energy storage device. The basic structure of this nuclear battery includes a converter, substrate, nickel-63 source, and battery protective layer.
Radiation Concerns
A major concern with nuclear energy is radiation. However, Betavolt assures potential users by stating that their battery is safe and has no external radiation, which makes it a suitable pick for usage in medical devices inside the human body, like pacemakers and cochlear implants.
Furthermore, Betavolt says that after the decay period, the 63 isotopes transform into a stable, non-radioactive isotope of copper, thereby posing no environmental threat or pollution.
Also, the BV100 battery developed by Betavolt is safer in comparison to regular batteries. It does not catch fire or explode when punctured or exposed to high temperatures, making it a safer option.