Posted on 02/24/2024 5:22:52 PM PST by Red Badger
The battery will not catch fire or explode in response to punctures or even gunshots, unlike some current batteries that can be unsafe if damaged or exposed to high temperatures, says Chinese startup Betavolt
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Chinese company Betavolt claims to have developed a battery that could power mobile phones that never need to be charged and drones that can fly forever. Photo: Betavolt.tech
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A Chinese startup claims to have developed a new battery that could power smartphones for 50 years without the need for charging.
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, reads an Independent article.
The battery works by converting the energy released by decaying isotopes into electricity through a process that was first explored in the 20th century.
Terming it as the next-generation battery, the company has said the project 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 startup 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."
Betavolt said its first nuclear battery could deliver 100 microwatts of power and a voltage of 3V while measuring 15x15x5 cubic millimetres. 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 a sudden force, Betavolt claims, while also being capable of working in temperatures ranging from -60 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius.
How it works
To create the radioactive battery, Betavolt's scientists used nickel-63, which is a radioactive element, as the energy source and then diamond semiconductors as energy converters.
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.
Betavolt claims the advantages of its atomic energy batteries are their lightweight, long service life, and high energy density, and they can normally work under extreme temperatures from -60 to 120 degrees Celcius.
Due to the modular design, multiple atomic batteries could be connected to provide a higher energy output that could power automotive technology and AI systems, just to name a few.
Radiation concerns
Nuclear energy, however, also comes with concerns regarding radiation.
However, Betavolt addressed this concern, stating the battery is safe as it has no external radiation and is suitable for use in medical devices inside the human body, like pacemakers and cochlea implants.
"Atomic energy batteries are environmentally friendly. After the decay period, the 63 isotopes turn into a stable isotope of copper, which is non-radioactive and does not pose any environmental threat or pollution," the company said.
It could even be safer, too, as Betavolt states that the BV100 will not catch fire or explode in response to punctures or even gunshots, unlike some current batteries that can be unsafe if damaged or exposed to high temperatures.
What tiny-sized nuclear batteries mean
Scientists in the Soviet Union and the United States were able to develop the technology for use in spacecraft, underwater systems and remote scientific stations. However, the thermonuclear batteries were both costly and bulky.
The quest to miniaturise and commercialise nuclear batteries was taken up under China's 14th Five-Year Plan, designed to strengthen the country's economy between 2021 and 2025, while research institutions in the US and Europe are also working on their development, reads the Independent article.
This technology could revolutionise electronics by removing the need for chargers or portable power banks altogether, creating devices that run continuously and whose batteries do not degrade in terms of capacity and lifespan over charging cycles as Li-ion batteries do.
Such unlimited power could provide drones that fly continuously, phones that run constantly, and electric cars that don't require recharging.
In Xinping China, battery charges YOU!
Then stolen by thieves to be sold back to China.
Am I misunderstanding something here? The article reference Nickle-63, us also references 63 isotopes? The Nickel-63 would decay into copper but the half-life is 100 years…not 50, so there would still be radioactive material after 50 years. As a by-product of the decay wouldn’t it also emit low-level gamma?
Yes. The ‘battery life’ is measured by the battery’s ability to produce the necessary volt/amps necessary to sustain the load.
At 50 years, I assume that the decay has used up the amount that makes the battery no longer useful.............
details details- it’s majik-
that’s all greek to me lol-
Why is it that so many FReepers do not even read the except posted?
Betavolt addressed this concern, stating the battery [at size] is safe as it has no external radiation and is suitable for use in medical devices inside the human body, like pacemakers and cochlea implants.
"Atomic energy batteries are environmentally friendly. After the decay period, the 63 isotopes turn into a stable isotope of copper, which is non-radioactive and does not pose any environmental threat or pollution," the company said.
It could even be safer, too, as Betavolt states that the BV100 will not catch fire or explode in response to punctures or even gunshots, unlike some current batteries that can be unsafe if damaged or exposed to high temperatures.
I was just saying tonite that about every month I read about a battery breakthrough, and then never hear about it again. Yet this is what EV's need. However, if this lives up to its billing, then it would indeed be a revolutionary breakthrough with extensive ramifications. Drone armies being one. For China first.
One question is, can these be arranged in series or parallel, and what happens when done so to 100 of these 3v. batteries? That is may be when you have "glowing" reports.
Wow, everything he stated is true, and I am a believer.
I also agree this would be so expensive, that even when or if it is perfected, it could cost as much as a new car just to get one battery.
Yet, at one time in the 50’s a microwave oven costed more than a car, now everyone can afford them.
Sadly, I may be long dead before the technology reaches the point of the average Joe being able to utilize such batteries.
I also agree, that the biggest drawback would be convincing people that nickel Ni-63 is completely harmless. Yet the idea of using nuclear waste is cool, because then we have a way to properly dispose of it.
since the isotope decay is uncontrollable, what happens to the “unused” energy when there is no need for electrical power to be drawn from the battery?
It has also been shown that minor amounts of radiation is actually good for the human body.
If radiation was that serious, Japan should have one of the lowest life expectancies in the world.
It would be dissipated as heat, small amounts, not dangerous............
Radioactive batteries.
What could POSSIBLY go wrong?
“A side benefit is that you can always find your phone at night since it glows in the dark.”
Your phone will kill testicular cancer cells—prostate cancer altogether.
Yeah, can’t be good for the boys
“placing 63 nuclear isotopes into a module”
“nickel-63”
Journalists are the dumbest and most ignorant creatures.
At $4,000 per gram, Ni-63 isn’t going to solve too many problems. There are lots of these types of configurations, but none so far offer viable economics.
“It would be dissipated as heat, small amounts, not dangerous”
given that batteries are very tightly enclosed in electronic devices, that wouldn’t work for a battery powerful enough to drive any decent sized device ... a device that was turned off would heat up until it burst into flames or was otherwise destroyed by the continuous buildup of heat ... can you imagine what would happen if one attempted to use such an atomic battery in a larger device like a power drill ...
Turns you fluorescent green if you hold it within 2 feet of your body, but otherwise works great!
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