Chinese Startup develops nuclear battery for smartphones that will last 50 years without charging
Betavolt, a Chinese startup, claims a groundbreaking achievement with the development of a nuclear battery that can power smartphones for an impressive 50 years without requiring charging. This nuclear battery, deemed the world's first miniaturized atomic energy system, utilizes 63 nuclear isotopes packed into a module smaller than a coin.
The technology involves converting energy released by decaying isotopes into electricity, a concept first explored in the 20th century and now realized by Betavolt. The startup has initiated pilot testing and plans to mass-produce the battery for various applications, including smartphones and drones.
In their press release, Betavolt stated, "Betavolt atomic energy batteries can meet the needs of long-lasting power supply in multiple scenarios, such as aerospace, AI equipment, medical equipment, microprocessors, advanced sensors, small drones, and micro-robots." They believe this innovation will provide China with a competitive advantage in the AI technology era.
The initial nuclear battery by Betavolt delivers 100 microwatts of power with a voltage of 3V, measuring a tiny 15x15x5 cubic millimeters. The company aims to produce a battery with 1 watt of power by 2025. The small size allows for multiple units to be connected, increasing power output, envisioning a future where mobile phones never need charging, and drones can fly indefinitely.
Ensuring safety, Betavolt's design features a layered structure to prevent fire or explosions when subjected to sudden force. The battery can operate in a wide temperature range, from -60 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius.
To create the battery, Betavolt used nickel-63, a radioactive element, as the energy source, employing diamond semiconductors for energy conversion. The team developed a thin single-crystal diamond semiconductor and placed a nickel-63 sheet between two diamond semiconductor converters. The radioactive source's decay energy is then converted into electrical current.
Addressing radiation concerns, Betavolt assures users of safety, stating no external radiation. It is deemed suitable for use in medical devices inside the human body, such as pacemakers and cochlear implants. After the decay period, the isotopes transform into a stable, non-radioactive isotope of copper, posing no environmental threat.
The BV100 battery by Betavolt is also considered more secure than conventional batteries, not catching fire or exploding when punctured or exposed to high temperatures.
The development of miniaturized nuclear batteries has been a longstanding goal, and Betavolt's breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize electronics by eliminating the need for chargers or portable power banks.
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Rupee hits record low of 96.14/USD, settles at fresh closing low of 95.86/USD
Mumbai (PTI): The Indian rupee crashed below the 96/USD mark on Friday before closing at an all-time low of 95.86 (provisional) against the US dollar as elevated crude oil prices and inflation concerns added to the downside pressure on the rupee.
Rupee has registered over 6 per cent losses so far this year, and in the past six trading sessions, it has depreciated nearly 2 per cent as Iran war risk escalation pushed crude oil prices higher. The dollar index moved northwards after strong US retail sales and stable labour market data reduced expectations of aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Forex traders said global uncertainties, relatively high valuations, and the lack of AI-led investment opportunities have weighed on capital flows.
Moreover, weak net FDI inflows are likely to exert pressure on the balance of payments, while rising crude oil prices stoke inflation worries.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 95.86, then slumped to a record low of 96.14 in intraday trade, registering a fall of 50 paise from its previous close.
The USD/INR pair finally settled at 95.86 (provisional) against the US dollar, registering a fall of 22 paise from its previous close, helped by likely RBI intervention.
On Thursday, the rupee weakened to a fresh record low of 95.96 before closing with a marginal gain of 2 paise at 95.64 against the US dollar.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading at 99.15, higher by 0.34 per cent.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading up 3.14 per cent at USD 109.04 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, Sensex fell 160.73 points to settle at 75,237.99, while Nifty declined 46.10 points to 23,643.50.
Foreign Institutional Investors turned net buyers, purchasing equities worth Rs 187.46 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data.
Meanwhile, the country's exports in April rose by 13.78 per cent to USD 43.56 billion despite global challenges, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Friday.
Imports grew 10 per cent year-on-year to USD 71.94 billion in April. The trade deficit during the month stood at USD 28.38 billion.
"We expect the rupee to trade with a negative bias on elevated crude oil prices and inflation concerns. Strong dollar and FII outflows may also weigh on the rupee. However, any intervention by the RBI and hiking of import duty on gold and silver may support the rupee at lower levels. USD-INR spot price is expected to trade in a range of 95.60 to 96.20," said Anuj Choudhary, Research analyst at Mirae Asset ShareKhan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump on Friday hailed their talks as "historic" and "landmark", as the American leader wrapped up his three-day visit on a high note, but no deals on any contentious issues were announced.
Both Presidents, who held several rounds of talks covering a range of global issues, including the Iran war and bilateral trade frictions, concluded their discussions with a private meeting at Zhongnanhai, the well-guarded compound in Beijing where top leaders reside.
