Beijing Betavolt New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. announced a major breakthrough on January 8 and successfully developed a miniature atomic energy battery. This innovative product combines nickel-63 nuclear isotope decay technology and China's first diamond semiconductor (4th generation semiconductor) module to achieve miniaturization, modularization and low cost of atomic energy batteries, starting the process of civilian use. This achievement marks China's disruptive innovation in two high-tech fields: atomic energy batteries and fourth-generation diamond semiconductors, putting it far ahead of European and American scientific research institutions and enterprises.
Betavolt atomic energy batteries have the characteristics of stable self-generation for 50 years. They do not require charging or maintenance. They have entered the pilot stage and are about to be mass-produced and put into the market. The battery can meet the power supply needs in long-lasting multiple scenarios such as aerospace, AI equipment, medical equipment, MEMS systems, advanced sensors, small drones and micro-robots. This new energy innovation will help China gain a leading edge in the new round of AI technological revolution.
Atomic energy batteries, also known as nuclear batteries or radioisotope batteries, work on the principle of utilizing the energy released by the decay of nuclear isotopes and converting it into electrical energy through semiconductor converters. This was a high-tech field that the United States and the Soviet Union focused on in the 1960s. Currently, there are only thermonuclear batteries used in aerospace. This type of battery is large in size and weight, has high internal temperatures, is expensive, and cannot be used by civilians. In recent years, miniaturization, modularization and civilian use of nuclear batteries have been the goals and directions pursued by European and American countries. China's "14th Five-Year Plan and 2035 Vision Goals" also propose that the civilianization of nuclear technology and the multi-purpose development of nuclear isotopes are future development trends.
Betavoltaic nuclear batteries have developed a completely different technological path, which generates electric current through the semiconductor transition of beta particles (electrons) emitted by the radioactive source nickel-63. To implement this technology, Betavolt's team of scientists developed a unique single-crystal diamond semiconductor that is only 10 microns thick, placing a 2-micron-thick nickel-63 sheet between two diamond semiconductor converters. The decay energy of the radioactive source is converted into an electrical current, forming an independent unit. This kind of nuclear battery is modular and can be composed of dozens or hundreds of independent unit modules and can be used in series and parallel to create battery products of different sizes and capacities.
Zhang Wei, chairman and CEO of Betavolt, said that the first product the company will launch is BV100, which is the world's first nuclear battery to be mass-produced, with a power of 100 microwatts, a voltage of 3V, and a volume of only 15 X 15 X 5 cubic millimeters, smaller than a coin. Nuclear batteries generate electricity every minute and can produce 8.64 joules of energy per day and 3153 joules of energy per year. Multiple such batteries can be used in series and parallel. The company plans to launch a 1-watt battery in 2025. If policies permit, atomic energy batteries can allow a mobile phone to never be charged, and drones that can only fly for 15 minutes can fly all the time.
According to reports, atomic energy batteries are physical batteries, not electrochemical batteries, and their energy density is much higher than ternary lithium batteries. A 1-gram battery can store 3,300 megawatt-hours of energy and will not cause fire or explosion in case of accidents such as needle sticks and gunshots. Due to its 50-year self-generating nature, there is no concept of the number of cycles (2000 charges and discharges) of an electrochemical battery.
In addition, the power generation of atomic energy batteries is stable and will not change due to harsh environments and loads. It can work normally within the range of 120 degrees above zero and -60 degrees below zero, and there is no self-discharge phenomenon. At the same time, the atomic energy battery developed by Betavolt is absolutely safe, has no external radiation, and is suitable for use in medical devices such as pacemakers, artificial hearts, and cochleas in the human body. In addition, atomic energy batteries are environmentally friendly. After the decay period, the nickel-63 isotope used as the radioactive source becomes a stable isotope of copper and does not pose any threat or pollution to the environment. So unlike existing chemical batteries, nuclear batteries don't require expensive recycling processes.
Currently, Betavolt has registered a patent in Beijing and will begin to register global PCT patents. In the 2023 Innovation Competition held by China National Nuclear Corporation, Betavolt stood out as one of the very few external participating companies and won the third prize in the competition, which represents the recognition of China's authoritative nuclear technology companies for Betavolt's atomic energy battery technology and products. Betavolt has also communicated with China's professional nuclear research institutions and universities and plans to continue research on using isotopes such as strontium 90 promethium 147 and deuterium to develop atomic energy batteries with higher power and a service life of 2 to 30 years.
The core of Betavolt atomic energy battery is the fourth generation diamond semiconductor, which is well-known in the industry as the ultimate semiconductor material. Betavolt is another high ground in the global technology competition in the semiconductor field. Betavolt is currently the only company in the world that can dope large-sized diamond semiconductor materials with high efficiency. Converters are key to making nuclear batteries.