Tech Desk 
May 11, 2025
An undated image. — Unsplash
In a demonstration of its skyrocketing advancements in the future of nuclear battery technology, China has developed a miniaturised nuclear battery, a power source claimed to last decades uninterrupted.
Promising a life cycle of around 100 years, China's miniaturised nuclear batteries have emerged to revolutionise the medical and space exploration sectors that rely on overwhelming energy.
Betavolt, a Beijing-based company, introduced the BV100, a coin-sized nuclear battery powered by Nickel-63, in early 2024. The tiny battery has the potential to operate for up to 50 years without requiring a recharge. The battery has reportedly reached the production phase and will be deployed in several fields like aerospace, defence, and consumer electronics upon successful rollout.
Building on the success of the BV100, Northwest Normal University researchers have now succeeded in developing a Carbon-14-powered version with an expected lifespan of 100 years.
Since Carbon-14 is rare, China has established a dedicated reactor to extract it, as part of its efforts to lead the global nuclear battery supply chain, as it did with solar panel production.
The incredible nuclear battery development comes at a time when nuclear batteries are being reassessed as durable and sustainable energy solutions that are capable of powering long-term medical implants and space missions.
With China in the lead, other countries also seem to hop on the bandwagon, as City Labs in the US is working on a tritium-based battery lasting up to 20 years, while Arkenlight, a UK-based firm, is exploring ways to create batteries from nuclear waste.
