China starts mass production of a nuclear microbattery capable of operating for 50 years without recharging

Chinese company Betavolt has officially started mass production of its unique BV100 nuclear microbattery, based on nickel-63 isotope. This miniature device, comparable in size to a coin, can power electronics for up to half a century without needing to be recharged or replaced.

The energy in the BV100 is generated by the controlled radioactive decay of nickel-63, which turns into copper-63 by emitting beta particles. These particles are captured by a special structure of artificial diamond semiconductors, generating a stable electric current. This technology allows the battery to be used in applications where long-term autonomy is critical, such as medical implants, space satellites, wireless sensors or devices operating in extreme environments.

BV100 was first unveiled in 2024. The device delivers up to 100 microwatts of power and remains functional in temperatures ranging from -60 to +120 degrees Celsius. It is ten times more energy dense than conventional lithium-ion batteries, is non-flammable, requires no cooling and is completely safe to use. By design, the power cell is a thin layer of radioactive material, only two microns thick, sandwiched between two plates of diamond material, each ten microns thick.

One of the features of the BV100 is its modularity. Units can be combined to create batteries with higher power output or increased physical size. By the end of 2025, Betavolt plans to release a more powerful 1-watt version of the battery for use in portable electronics, drones, autonomous sensors and other devices where durability and compactness are important.

Betavolt plans to release a more powerful 1-watt version of the battery by the end of 2025.

The company’s engineers emphasize that nickel-63 completely decays into a stable and safe isotope at the end of the battery’s life, while the diamond shell remains non-toxic, making the device environmentally friendly.

Globally, interest in nuclear power cells is growing steadily. For example, US company City Labs is developing tritium-based microbattery technology for use in medical and military systems. In South Korea, scientists from Daegu Gyeongbuk University (DGIST) have successfully demonstrated experimental samples of similar beta-decay-based sources.

At the same time, scientists from the University of Daegu Gyeongbuk (DGIST) have successfully demonstrated experimental samples of similar beta-decay-based sources.

Thanks to Betavolt’s efforts, China is now becoming one of the leaders in the commercialization of compact nuclear power sources. This technology opens up new horizons in the field of autonomous electronics, especially in industries where batteries cannot be replaced or recharged for long periods of time.