Game-Changer: Chinese Startup Unveils Coin-Sized Nuclear Battery with 50-Year Lifespan

A Chinese startup, Betavolt, has introduced a coin-sized nuclear battery capable of generating electricity for up to 50 years without requiring recharging. The BV100 battery, although still in the developmental phase, offers the potential to revolutionize the energy sector and potentially power smartphones using atomic energy.

This nuclear battery utilizes a decaying radioactive isotope of nickel (Ni-63) and features single-crystal diamond semiconductor sheets, each just 10 microns thick. It has a remarkable energy storage capacity, with the ability to store 3300-megawatt hours and an energy density over ten times that of traditional lithium batteries.

Betavolt highlights that the BV100 can provide sustained power output for five decades without any need for recharging or maintenance. Although the battery’s power output per unit is relatively low at 100 microwatts and 3 volts, it can be used effectively by combining multiple BV100 units in series or parallel configurations to power various devices.

Despite the use of nuclear energy, Betavolt assures that the BV100 is entirely safe for civilian use. It envisions potential applications in medical devices like pacemakers and artificial hearts due to its safety features. The company emphasizes that the battery poses no external radiation risk and is not prone to catching fire or exploding in response to external stimuli like acupuncture or gunshots.

While thermonuclear batteries are already employed in aerospace engineering, the introduction of the BV100 suggests a broader trend toward the use of nuclear batteries in everyday technology. Betavolt indicates that the battery is currently in the pilot stage and will soon enter mass production, potentially leading to a future where mobile phones and other devices never require recharging, thanks to atomic energy batteries.