‘Mobile phones will never need to be charged and drones will fly forever’
A Chinese startup has unveiled a new nuclear battery that it claims can generate electricity for 50 years with the need for charging or maintenance.
Beijing-based Betavolt said its nuclear battery is the first in the world to realise the miniaturisation of atomic energy, placing 63 nuclear isotopes into a module smaller than a coin.
The company said the next-generation battery had already entered the pilot testing stage and will eventually be mass produced for commercial applications like phones and drones.
“Betavolt atomic energy batteries can meet the needs of long-lasting power supply in multiple scenarios, such as aerospace, AI equipment, medical equipment, microprocessors, advanced sensors, small drones and micro-robots,” the company said in a press release.
“This new energy innovation will help China gain a leading edge in the new round of the AI technological revolution.”
The company said the battery works by converting the energy released by decaying isotopes into electricity.
Betavolt said its first nuclear battery can deliver 100 microwatts of power and a voltage of 3V, while measuring 15x15x5 cubic millimetres, however it plans to produce a battery with 1 watt of power by 2025.
Their small size means they could be used in series to produce more power, with the company imagining mobile phones that never need to be charged and drones that can fly forever.
Its layered design also means it will not catch fire or explode in response to sudden force, Betavolt claims, while also being capable of working in temperatures ranging from -60°C to 120 °C.
