Nuclear Batteries the Size of a Postage Stamp That Can Work for 50 Years Are Coming!
Barış Özcan Barış Özcan
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 Published On Feb 17, 2024

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A startup from China called Betavolt announced that they have developed a stamp-sized battery that can run continuously for 50 years. These batteries run on nuclear energy and have 10 times the energy density of lithium-ion batteries we know.

This battery developed by Betavolt produces voltage, that is, electricity, by using beta radiation. Beta... Volt... Instead of Uranium, it uses Nickel-63 as an energy source. Instead of producing high-energy neutrons, it produces electrons. The distance they can travel through matter, that is, their penetration, is much less. There's no need to slow it down with a huge pool of water.

When nickel-63 decays, it emits beta radiation, or a beta particle. Don't be fooled by a flashy name like beta particle, as I said, this is actually the electron as we know it. But it's a sufficiently energetic electron. A semiconductor they specially developed from single-crystal diamond covers Nickel-63, which is only 2 micrometers thick, like a toast. Thus, this beta radiation, that is, electrons, emitted from Nickel-63, is captured by this semiconductor and converted into electrical energy. Thus, no radiation leaks out.

In other words, it does not require a chain reaction like in nuclear reactors. There is no need to check it. It works on its own. Also, we do not need to recharge them like chemical batteries. It continues to produce energy regularly throughout its 50-year life. Moreover, its energy density is 10 times higher than lithium-ion batteries of similar sizes we use today. Currently it has only 100 microwatts of power and can deliver 3 Volts of electricity. However, due to its modular design, it is possible to combine many of them and use them in larger applications. Additionally, Betavolt announced that they are aiming for a 1 Watt product by 2025.

But perhaps the most important thing is that it does not produce any waste after use, as in nuclear reactors. After undergoing beta decay, nickel-63 turns into a harmless form of copper. Of course, these small batteries will not replace nuclear reactors. However, this is an important step in terms of us being able to use nuclear energy both more effectively and cleaner.

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In this video you will also learn the following information.

Usage areas of the battery:
Devices used in daily life such as phones, headphones, pacemakers
Devices that need long-term and uninterrupted energy, such as drones
Devices used for surveillance and communication in the military field

Importance of energy:

Energy is a fundamental feature of the universe and will always be a hot topic. Finding ways to produce more effective and safe energy will continue to be important in the future.

Kardashev Scale:

It defines the level of a civilization in the universe by the amount of energy that civilization uses.
Type I civilizations are those that use the energy on their planet, like us,
Type II civilizations are those that use the energy of their stars,
Type III civilizations are those that use all energy resources in the galaxy.

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Researched and Written by: Ögetay Kayalı
Edited by: Alperen Çatak
Edited and Presented by: Barış Özcan

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Full text of the video and sources used:
https://barisozcan.com

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