Scalable nuclear battery uses diamond for 50 year life
A Chinese company has developed a tiny battery with a lifetime of 50 years by using a nuclear isotope and diamond semiconductor.
The 3V nuclear battery developed by Beijing Betavolt New Energy Technology uses radioactive nickel-63 as the energy source and a diamond semiconductor as the energy converter. It is a DC power supply and can produce a pulse power supply with a higher lifespan by adding a supercapacitor as an energy storage device.
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The modular battery consists of a stack of diamond semiconductor converters and 2μm thick nickel-63 sheets. A module is composed of at least 2 converters and 1 layer of nickel-63 and is s continuously stacked to form a group. The minimum size of the atomic energy battery is 3x3x0.03㎜ (composed of 2 converters and 1 layer of nickel 63).
Multiple module groups are connected in series and parallel, and the power from the nuclear battery can be configured from a few microwatts to several watts says the company.
Betavolt was established in April 2021 integrating R&D, production, service, sales, and import and export trade. Its main products include atomic energy batteries and fourth-generation diamond semiconductors. and materials, ultra-long carbon nanotubes and supercapacitors.
The company’s first-generation products are based on diamond semiconductor converters and Schottky diodes as well as the nuclear batteries, and the company is aiming at space applications, defence and medical designs.
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