# I've got the power! # What the fuss fuse? ![Betavolt Battery: 50-Year Charge for Cellphone](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltb299798942522069/bltde1ad3c0b095eb53/65a7f0881a3355040abd9e2e/Betavolt_BV100_internal_layers.jpg align="left") So, you’d likely heard about [Betavolt - a revolutionary, game-changing technology](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a64286191/nuclear-battery-china/): layered battery with a Ni-63 isotope that emits power for up to 50 years! Some facts: 🔋 It should really work for ~50 years as [Ni-63’s half-life is 100.1 years](https://ehs.princeton.edu/laboratory-research/radiation-safety/radioactive-materials/radioisotope-fact-sheets/nickel-63) ☢️ Radiation-wise it’s rather safe, i.e. it’s beta-radiation + don’t try to open it or make a smoothie. Making a smoothie out of a Li-Pol battery will not do your health much good, too. 🦿 [Converts to copper-63 (stable) over time](https://www.chemlin.org/isotope/nickel-63), so it’s extremely environmentally friendly in the long run ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1743935015725/45500c0e-dc11-430a-8627-733e55eb2186.png align="center") 👷 Works like this (simple explanation so you’ll be able to engage in broscience wars below): ![Prototype nuclear battery packs 10 times more power](https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/2018/1-prototypenuc.jpg align="center") > Betavoltaic batteries comprise two parts: a radioactive emitter and semiconductor absorber. As the emitter naturally decays, high-speed electrons (aka beta particles) strike the absorber. This creates an “electron-hole” pair, which generates a small-but-stable supply of usable [**electric**](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a64176186/wireless-power-beaming/) [current](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a64176186/wireless-power-beaming/). In [simpler words](https://www.reddit.com/r/Physics/comments/1iib0fs/electronhole_pairs/) and likely with a lot of mistakes: * electron-hole pair is a complex of an electron (negative charge) and a ‘vacant’ place where an electron should be (positive charge) * when it’s generated near a PN junction, electron is pulled towards N, and the ‘hole’ is pulled towards P * the resulting separation causes the charge to flow (electrons moving) ![Separation of geminate electron-hole pairs at donor-acceptor interfaces in the approximation of prescribed diffusion - ScienceDirect](https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0301010417300022-fx1.jpg align="center") # What’s the game? “So game-changing”, “Much power”, “Eternal memes” - the media lauds Betavolt. But are they first? * [NDB](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/green-tech/a35970222/radioactive-diamond-battery-will-run-for-28000-years/) (Nuclear Diamond Battery) is already in the market, claiming 28,000 years of battery life * Radioactive decay-based batteries had been designed [since 1913, by Henry Moseley](http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2011/ph241/yemane1/#:~:text=The%20first%20atomic%20battery%20was,a%20build%2Dup%20of%20charge.) (he’s a one smart chap, innit?) ![IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ on X: "Henry Moseley, born on this day in 1887, was the inventor of the first atomic battery. He also discovered a mathematical relationship between](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gc64VRHWoAAjCLz?format=jpg&name=4096x4096 align="center") * There were [numerous betavoltaic battery startups and techs](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a64286191/nuclear-battery-china/) (incl. using other isotopes like tritium), but they’re in *stealth or death* mode (we don’t hear much) * Researchers from MIPT (Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology) had, erm, [achieved ~this structure in 2018](https://phys.org/news/2018-06-prototype-nuclear-battery-power.html) (nickel-63 layered with diamond semiconductors)
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If the beta radiation source is too thick, the electrons it emits cannot escape it. This effect is known as self-absorption. However, as the source is made thinner, the number of atoms undergoing beta decay per unit time is proportionally reduced. Similar reasoning applies to the thickness of the converter.
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It turned out that the nickel-63 source is at its most effective when it is 2 micrometers thick, and the optimal thickness of the converter based on Schottky barrier diamond diodes is around 10 micrometers.
I’ve honestly tried to find differences between their tech, but [**couldn’t**](https://www.perplexity.ai/search/betavolt-s-technology-broke-do-qMnT9FVORS6wSDwqJX3r9Q) even with the help of digital hallucinating monsters! * Isotope: Both use nickel-63 as the radioactive source * Semiconductor: Both use diamond as the semiconductor material12 * Thickness: Both identify 2 micrometers as the optimal thickness for nickel-63 # What are the implications? As the tech is not new[,](https://www.metaltechnews.com/story/2024/03/06/tech-bytes/betavolt-unveils-50-year-atomic-battery/1663.html) but it’s definitely a huge market and strategic advantage, we could infer something like: * **Conversion efficiency** is a huge factor - it’s the main thing changing in this tech AFAIS * **Compatibility** with current standards - e.g. an AA/CR2032 battery that never has to be recharged is good, but a working safe **pacemaker**, or a **sensor**, or a **drone** - that’s on a whole another level * **Sustainability** - e.g. are the parts easily sourced/produced/recycled? Are the reagents easy to get or synthesize? * **Outreach and adoption** - i.e. the ability to secure contracts, synergies (medtech, military, surveillance, corporate etc.) It looks like China may have the upper hand in government-level large-scale adoption of emerging tech - and the **skill of announcing loudly**, as can be seen by DeepSeek’s, Unitree’s and now - Betavolt’s releases. The resulting implications? I wouldn’t want to see a trade/strategic war, but the scientific cold one is both **good** *(more scientific progress - likely better lives on average)* and **bad** *(snatching enablers, e.g. Taiwan/TSMC…)* ![Using Cloudinary for responsive images · Issue #11 · 11ty/eleventy · GitHub](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/439942/38430935-b8dfc6e2-3990-11e8-8920-86074a66581c.png align="center") --- Welcome to **Teleogenic**❣️ Other places I cross-post (not always) to: * [**Hashnode**](https://posts.teleogenic.com) * [**Medium**](https://baldr.medium.com/) * [**Telegram**](https://t.me/ohmyboi) * [**Twitter**](https://twitter.com/ZakharKogan) * [**LinkedIn**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zakhar-kogan/)