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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
PM has no words now on rupee depreciation but let us remind him about 2013: Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi, Dec 30: The Congress on Monday attacked the government over depreciation in the value of the rupee against the US dollar and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has nothing to say now even though he had resorted to personal attacks against former prime minister Manmohan Singh when the Indian currency had fallen during the UPA term.
AICC general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh also recalled the words of Modi in 2013 when he had claimed that UPA leadership has become directionless and are neither worried about the country's defence nor the value of its currency, but are "only worried about saving their chair".
"The then-biological CM of Gujarat had run a loud campaign against the depreciation of the rupee vis-a-vis the dollar in 2014 even resorting to personal attacks on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to score political points. On 16 May, 2014, the rupee closed at Rs 58.58 per USD.
"Ten years later, the rupee has touched an all time-low of 85.27 per USD. The INR has achieved the distinction of being the worst-performing currency in Asia," the Congress general secretary said in a post on X.
"Remember all of this depreciation is despite the Government and RBI's de facto currency peg - as the Prime Minister's former Chief Economic Advisor has pointed out in recent weeks. The RBI has used billions of dollars of our foreign exchange reserves to stabilise the rupee, to no effect. How many billions have been used?" Ramesh asked.
"The non-biological Prime Minister has no words now but let us remind him of his words from 2013 - 'Crises come, but if during a crisis if the leadership is directionless, hopeless, then the crisis becomes very grave… It is our country’s misfortune that the rulers in Delhi are neither worried about the country’s defence nor about the falling value of the rupee…If they are worried, it is only about saving their chair'," the Congress leader said in his post.
The rupee dropped 4 paise to 85.52 (provisional) against the US dollar in early trade on Monday, as dollar demand from importers, foreign fund outflows and a muted trend in domestic equities dented investor sentiments.
Forex traders said the rupee witnessed heavy volatility on Friday as well on Monday amid significant dollar demand linked to the expiry of December currency futures and maturing positions in the outstanding forwards.
On Friday, the rupee registered the steepest fall in almost two years to hit its lifetime intra-day low of 85.80 before a likely central bank intervention helped recover some of its losses and settled 21 paise lower at a record low of 85.48 against the US dollar.
The then-biological CM of Gujarat had run a loud campaign against the depreciation of the rupee vis-a-vis the dollar in 2014, even resorting to personal attacks on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to score political points. On 16 May, 2014, the rupee closed at Rs 58.58 per USD. Ten…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 30, 2024
