A nuclear 3V battery has reportedly entered mass production. The BV100, which was unveiled last year, can provide power for up to 50 years without charging. It’s also roughly the size of a small coin.
The company responsible for BV100, Beijing Betavolt New Energy Technology, revealed that the battery relies on the radioactive decay of its nickel-63 core. This core has a thickness of 2-microns and is sandwiched by two 10-micron thick diamond semiconductors, which convert the decay into electricity.
The battery’s power output is 100 microwatts at 3V, which is not enough to power smartphones or laptops as these devices have a high energy demand. However, the battery’s compact design allows for multiple batteries to be combined to produce more energy.
While the idea of nuclear energy may raise some environmental and safety concerns, Betavolt claims that their battery design is eco-friendly as the nickel-63 core will decay into stable copper. Furthermore, Betavolt’s battery relies on the emission of beta particles, which is safer than traditional nuclear battery designs that reach high internal temperatures.
Betavolt also plans on releasing a more powerful version of the battery, intended to power consumer electronics and other applications that require long-lasting energy. Other companies such as City Labs and Kronos Advanced Technologies have shown interest in this technology, with City Labs looking to develop betavoltaic batteries using tritium cores for medical devices.
(Source: Techspot)
