Remember the smoke radioactive battery that popped up on the energy scene a few years ago? Today a more “assertive” innovation arrives from Betavolt New Energy Technology. The Chinese company just unveiled the BV100, a tiny nuclear battery that combines radioactive nickel-63 with a diamond semiconductor.
This battery, which today can produce 100 microwatts at 3 volts and measures 15 x 15 x 5 mm, promises a life of up to 50 years. It could mark a significant shift in the use of conventional batteries.
Nuclear battery? A technology beyond conventions
The BV100 is not a simple battery, but a highly engineered product that redefines the concept of electrical power. The combination of nickel-63 and diamond semiconductor ensures a long life compared to traditional lithium batteries.
Does this mean we could soon see devices that don't require charging for decades? A perspective that opens new avenues in various sectors, from mobile telephony to drones. Betavolts he estimates that such a nuclear battery could one day power a cell phone that no longer requires charging, or keep a small drone in the air indefinitely.
What about security?
It's one of the most striking aspects of the BV100. The material is sealed in a protective case to protect against radiation exposure and protect the battery from physical damage.
In an age where fire and explosion risks related to lithium batteries are a constant concern, Betavolt theoretically offers a quieter solution. It is not prone to the problems typical of traditional batteries, such as overheating or the risk of explosion. Again: the conversion of nickel-63 to non-radioactive copper at the end of the nuclear battery's life presents minimal environmental risk, marking an important step towards a more sustainable future.
Future perspectives
Today the BV100 is in pilot production, and Betavolt already has a more powerful version planned for 2025. The goal is to integrate this technology into a variety of applications, making the need to charge our devices an obsolete concept . With ten times the energy density of lithium batteries and without the charging cycle issues, the BV100 could be an ideal solution for a wide range of uses.
Can it work? I can't say. The transition from prototypes to mass production is always full of unknowns. Certainly such a nuclear battery would represent a significant turning point in the way we use energy, paving the way towards a future where the limitations of traditional batteries are a thing of the past.
