There is no doubt that batteries are one of the bottlenecks in the technology world today. This is clearly visible in the example of the smartphone market. Although modern devices impress with their efficiency and excellent cameras, they usually do not last longer than a day on a single battery charge.
Manufacturers are trying to get around this problem by developing new fast charging technologies. However, this is only an apparent solution. Either way, every day we have to connect our smartphone to the charger – even for 30-40 minutes.
A smartphone with a nuclear battery? The Chinese are working on new technology
, which is expected to operate for up to 50 years. This is a miniature nuclear cell, or more precisely, a betavoltaic cell. The Chinese emphasize that they have already developed a prototype model of such a battery. The BV100 cell has dimensions of 15x15x5 mm (so it is smaller than a coin) and can generate 100 microwatts at a voltage of 3V.
Betavolt Technology photo: Betavolt Technology
Betavolt Technology boasts that BV100 cells can be connected modularly, which will potentially allow for powering larger devices. According to the company, miniature nuclear cells can be used, for example, in the space industry, drones, microrobots and medical equipment. Of course, mobile phones are also involved – although here the perspective is a bit more distant.
Is the Betavolt nuclear battery safe? The company convinces
What about security? Nuclear energy is commonly associated with the decay of radioactive elements. Betavolt Technology claims that their cell does not pose a threat to humans. The battery is made of layers of a diamond semiconductor and thin layers of the nickel isotope Ni-63. Its half-decay lasts for about 100 years, and the result of this process is a stable isotope of copper – Cu-63.
The nuclear battery developed by Betavolt is completely safe, does not emit external radiation and is suitable for use in medical devices such as pacemakers, artificial hearts and cochleas in the human body
– explains the company. Betavolt also ensures that the battery can operate in a temperature range of -60 to 120 degrees Celsius.
The cell prototype has already passed the testing phase. We do not know yet when Betavolt cells will debut on the market. but the company would like to start producing small 1W batteries by 2025. Of course, there is still a long way to go from a 1W cell to a battery that could power a modern smartphone, but it must be admitted that the idea of the Chinese company looks quite promising.
Source: Gazeta
Mabel is a talented author and journalist with a passion for all things technology. As an experienced writer for the 247 News Agency, she has established a reputation for her in-depth reporting and expert analysis on the latest developments in the tech industry.
