Chinese company Beijing Betavolt New Energy Technology has unveiled a miniature nuclear battery that can provide a stable supply of electricity for 50 years. “Rambler” reports this.
The BV100 battery has a power of 100 microwatts, a voltage of 3 volts and a volume of 15x15x5 cubic millimeters. It's less than a coin. The energy density of nuclear batteries is more than 10 times that of ternary lithium batteries.
They can operate normally between minus 60°C and 120°C.
The battery uses nickel-63 as the energy source and diamond semiconductor as the energy converter.
According to Betavolt Chairman and CEO Zhang Wei, the new nuclear battery could be used in equipment, electromechanical systems, sensors, small drones and micro-robots. It does not require charging, maintenance and does not produce external radiation.