China’s Betavolt Achieves Disruptive Innovation with Miniature Atomic Energy Batteries, Redefining Power Supply Across Industries
Bengaluru, NFAPost: Beijing Betavolt New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. announced the successful development of miniature atomic energy batteries, catapulting China to the forefront of the global race in high-tech innovation. Combining nickel-63 nuclear isotope decay technology with China’s first fourth-generation diamond semiconductor module, Betavolt has achieved miniaturization, modularization, and cost-effectiveness, marking a significant leap beyond European and American counterparts.
Betavolt’s atomic energy batteries can generate stable and autonomous electricity for an impressive 50 years without the need for charging or maintenance. This revolutionary technology is set to transform various sectors, including aerospace, AI equipment, medical devices, MEMS systems, advanced sensors, small drones, and micro-robots. The BV100, the world’s first mass-produced nuclear battery, boasts 100 microwatts of power, a 3V voltage, and a compact size smaller than a coin.
Unlike traditional thermonuclear batteries used in aerospace, Betavolt’s nuclear batteries utilize a unique approach, generating electric current through the semiconductor transition of beta particles emitted by the radioactive source nickel-63. The technology incorporates a 10-micron-thick single-crystal diamond semiconductor, ensuring stability, safety, and environmental friendliness. With an energy density over 10 times that of ternary lithium batteries, Betavolt’s nuclear batteries store 3,300 megawatt-hours in just 1 gram.
Crucially, these atomic energy batteries pose no threat of fire or explosion, making them suitable for applications in medical devices like pacemakers, artificial hearts, and cochlear implants. The absence of external radiation and the transition of the nickel-63 isotope into a non-radioactive stable isotope of copper post-decay further underscores the technology’s environmental friendliness.
Betavolt’s achievement has been recognized through a third prize in the China National Nuclear Corporation’s 2023 Innovation Competition, solidifying its position as a leader in nuclear technology. With plans to expand research into isotopes like strontium-90 and promethium-147, Betavolt aims to develop atomic energy batteries with higher power and extended service life, pushing the boundaries of autonomous energy even further.
