Beijing: A Chinese startup has developed a battery that can generate electricity for up to 50 years without the need for charging or maintenance.
According to the local company Betavolt, their nuclear battery represents the first example of short-term nuclear energy storage. This compact model, measuring 15 x 15 x 5mm, contains 63 nuclear isotopes.
The company stated that the new generation battery has entered the pilot testing phase and is set to begin large-scale production for economic uses such as phones and drones.
In a press release, the company mentioned that Betavolt's nuclear energy batteries can fulfill the energy needs of aerospace, artificial intelligence devices, medical equipment, microprocessors, advanced sensors, small drones, and micro-robots that require prolonged energy supply.
The press release further highlighted that this energy innovation will assist China in leading the way in the new era of artificial intelligence technology revolution.
The battery converts the released energy from isotopes into electricity, producing 100 micro-watts and 3 volts of power.
It is noteworthy that the Soviet Union and the United States could develop this technology for use in spacecraft, underwater systems, and remote scientific stations. However, challenges such as the high cost and large volume of thermal nuclear batteries hindered widespread adoption."