The constant need to charge gadgets is one of the main drawbacks of modern technology. Therefore, the creation of a battery that would hold a charge for decades remains the cherished dream of many users.
Chinese researchers have made a step towards reality, where chargers are no longer needed. Beijing Betavolt New Energy Technology Co. Ltd announced the development of the so-called "nuclear battery", which generates electricity at the expense of atomic energy.
According to the developers, such a power source can continuously supply energy to devices for up to 50 years. At the same time, the battery is very small in size, which makes it suitable for a wide range of applications.
- The principle of nuclear battery robots is as follows: radioactive isotopes during decay release energy, which semiconductors then convert into electricity. Betavolt claims that their team has created a miniature nuclear battery based on the isotope nickel-63, and has also developed a thin diamond semiconductor that facilitates the generation of current due to the isotope's natural decay.
If the claimed results are true, scientists have created a theoretically eternal battery that will last for decades. Thus, the technology could find application in the most diverse spheres — from artificial intelligence systems to the aerospace industry.
It is worth noting that the Chinese are not the only ones working on this. The company Infinity Power, in support of the Pentagon, also developed its own version of a nuclear battery. Vona claims that their unique method of energy conversion provides the highest overall efficiency in the history of such developments. According to Infinity Power, their "miniature tablet-shaped device" can display dozens of milliwatts of energy for more than 100 years.
- However, nuclear batteries are not the only promising type of power source that can change the technological landscape.
As the publication notes, companies are currently continuing to refine their "eternal" batteries before bringing them to the mass market.