News Chinese-developed nuclear battery has a 50-year lifespan — Betavolt BV100 built with Nickel-63 isotope and diamond semiconductor material

[HowAboutTheHeat]

For an electrical power output of 0.1 mW, I'd sure hope it wouldn't throw off enough waste heat to be an issue.

They intend to make a 1W version (10000 times that). If that produces 1W of heat while generating 1W of electricity, it would be significant for compact devices like phones.

 

[The Historical Fidelity]

You "breathe and eat" dozens of radioactive isotopes on a regular basis. Many foods are slightly radioactive (bananas and Brazil nuts are particularly potent), and if you live in a Rocky Mountain or New England state, you have a few kilograms of radioactive uranium, thorium, and radium in the topsoil of your own backyard. If you have granite countertops, try running a geiger counter over them sometime. And let's not forget the massive doses of cosmic radiation you receive if you live in a high-altitude city like Denver, or take cross-country jet flights.

Most of those are alpha particle emitters which are classified as “low penetrating”. My nuclear chemistry professor taught me a very relevant rule of thumb when it comes to messing with isotopes, it goes like this, “the human physiology has had time to adapt a means to tolerate the radioactive atoms naturally found on Earth, however there are no such mechanisms present to tolerate synthetic isotopes”. It’s not fool-proof by any means but gets the point across. Plus there being alpha emitting atoms in the soil is quite different from holding it against your head, in your hand for extended periods, and in your pocket all day.

 

[The Historical Fidelity]

Eh, it's actually been long overdue. People have been wanting their nuclear AA or AAA battery for some years now, where battery technology has remained stagnant until relatively recently (as rechargeable Lithium slowly trickled down, more thanks to early Chinese no-names becoming popular and reliable enough).

It's only now that betavoltaics are becoming practical enough to actually make at scale. And while the charge rates are low in with nuclear diamond batteries, the real value is being able to embed them into regular battery systems and let nuclear batteries basically trickle charge the primary battery system, with some concepts imagining being able to ensure a driver could crawl a few miles an hour if otherwise drained, or ensuring that phones can still self-charge while powered off in disaster scenarios.

That being said, there was a time when nuclear-powered hearts were actually a thing, and despite the paranoia, none of the known plutonium pacemakers ever failed, with some outliving their hosts. Ironically, the only reasons development of those died in favor of lithium-powered ones was entirely due to $$$. They lasted forever, whereas regular pacemakers required a battery change or total replacement every 5-15 years, depending on the model, and also mandated visits to the doctor more often.

Actually those Pu-238 pacemakers were discontinued due to radioactive exposure hazard. In fact there is still a hotline to contact the Oak Ridge National Laboratory or the Los Alamos Off-Site Recovery Project if your late loved one is suspected of having a Pu-238 pacemaker and a recovery crew will be dispatched ASAP to secure it.

 

[bit_user]

They intend to make a 1W version (10000 times that).

I read that, but assume the resulting cell to be at least a few orders of magnitude bigger and heavier than this coin-sized version. I'd imagine they can probably scale better than linear, but at maybe 10^3 times the size and mass of this version, it wouldn't be interesting for something like a phone.

 

[brandonjclark]

It is very cold... in SPAAAAAAAACE!

Seriously guys... think space applications and micro-positioning in orbit.

 

[bit_user]

Seriously guys... think space applications and micro-positioning in orbit.

Not in Earth or Mars orbit. I think only deep space probes need nuclear power. Closer to the sun, like we are, you could get much more power from a solar array.

Fun fact: the Curiosity (launched 2011) and Perseverance (launched 2020) Mars rovers are both nuclear powered. According to the wikipedia page, they carry 4.8 kg of Plutonium-238 dioxide. The reactor is rated to produce 110 W of electrical power, at mission start, dropping to 100 W after 14 years.

Prior Mars rovers have had issues with dust buildup on their solar panels. I assume that's among the reasons they opted to go nuclear.

 

[The Historical Fidelity]

It is very cold... in SPAAAAAAAACE!

Seriously guys... think space applications and micro-positioning in orbit.

That’s a very good point, the biggest problem today with radioactive isotope thermo-electric generators is that NASA is running out of its existing stockpile of Pu-238 which was last made in quantity in the late 80’s as the last nuclear bomb pits were made and the military’s breeder reactors were shut down. The last public account from NASA stated that only 37 lbs of Pu-238 remains in stockpile. So an alternative electric source for space probes using easier to produce isotopes would be ideal.

 

[RolandOlifant]

This sounds like a very real security threat.

 

[Conor Stewart]

This device or ones like it are not new, small betavoltaic devices with a 100 uW power rating have been around for over a decade, despite having a shorter lifetime than these new ones do, they are very similar.

There was more recently a company called "NDB" apparently working on similar stuff just now but the company seems very shady, most likely a venture capital grab as they have produced zero evidence of even having a prototype but they make grand claims.

If they make the 1 W version in 2025 then that could be impressive, depending on the size and weight but I feel that will either be far too optimistic or it will be too large and heavy to be practical for most uses, just like the power supply on curiosity.

 

[Tega]

Nickel 63 beta emissions can only travel 5cm in air, and less than 10 microns in human tissue.

https://ehs.princeton.edu/book/export/html/260

It poses no external hazard, unless you're rubbing it directly on your eyeballs.

https://ehs.oregonstate.edu/sites/ehs.oregonstate.edu/files/pdf/rso/data_sheet_ni63.pdf

As pjmelect said, it doesn't pose any threat unless you're ingesting the stuff.

If you don't regularly remove your phone's protective case, crack open the chassis, and hammer the battery into snortable lines, you've been missing out.

 

[Tanakoi]

Well in one case, we are born into a world with risk and must thrive. In the other, an opportunist is converting our risk into capital.

Converting risk into capital is the process which converted us from primitive hunter-gatherers into the civilization we have today. Would you ban the modern automobile, an invention that, even today, kills a million people per year? Cheap ubiquitous energy has far more power to transform and benefit society than a horseless buggy does.

 

[Tanakoi]

Actually those Pu-238 pacemakers were discontinued due to radioactive exposure hazard.

Absolutely, categorically false.

"...Steven Biegalski, chair of the Nuclear and Radiological Engineering and Medical Physics Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology, said, “Pu-238 decays 100 percent of the time by alpha emissions, which are easily stopped by the housing of the pacemaker and are absolutely no threat outside the pacemaker.” The dose rate at the surface of these devices is approximately 5 to 15 mrem—about what one would receive from a chest X-ray. Essentially, there is close to zero risk involved with these devices....."

And:

"...The French [medical pacemaker] study found that the dose rate to the recipient of the pacemaker and to the general public did not show any significant increase and that the reliability of the pacemaker would allow the patient to “live a normal life for at least 10 years without any surgical intervention.” .... Some of the plutonium-powered pacemakers have lasted more than 30 years without requiring any intervention...."

 

[Tanakoi]

NASA is running out of its existing stockpile of Pu-238 which was last made in quantity in the late 80’s as the last nuclear bomb pits were made and the military’s breeder reactors were shut down. The last public account from NASA stated that only 37 lbs of Pu-238 remains in stockpile.

The US DOE is again producing Pu-238. Nor does it require a breeder reactor to produce -- a traditional LWR power reactor produces it as well. The DOE's using the more straightforward method of simply irradiating Np-237 with neutrons. The only real reason we don't have vast quantities of Pu-238 is due to the proliferation concerns of producing large quantities of Pu-239 ... but that's easily solveable by simply burning the excess in one of the many reactor types which can use Pu-based fuel stocks.

 

[Sleepy_Hollowed]

Thanks but no thanks.

Just a manufacturing defect, or it being mangled in a defective electronic or accident with the electronic that it is installed on could be absolutely nightmare fuel.

There's not enough time to mention what happens when inevitably these get thrown away with regular batteries or even worse, on the trash.

 

[bit_user]

Converting risk into capital is the process which converted us from primitive hunter-gatherers into the civilization we have today.

Too simplistic. Yes, risk has an economic value and it works both ways (i.e. people take physical risks for economic benefit and spend money to reduce risk). However, it's not the process solely responsible for the development of modern society, or probably even the most dominant one.

Anyway, let's please try to stay on topic. Not only do the benefits of a new technology need to outweigh the risks, but I think there are limits to the nature and degree of risk people & society are willing to accept.

 

[Alex/AT]

Honestly?
I'd be a bit cautious to carry smartphone that can potentially emit ionizing radiation :-D

 

[Joseph_138]

So they basically invented Mr Fusion, to power your flux capacitor.

 

[The Historical Fidelity]

The US DOE is again producing Pu-238. Nor does it require a breeder reactor to produce -- a traditional LWR power reactor produces it as well. The DOE's using the more straightforward method of simply irradiating Np-237 with neutrons. The only real reason we don't have vast quantities of Pu-238 is due to the proliferation concerns of producing large quantities of Pu-239 ... but that's easily solveable by simply burning the excess in one of the many reactor types which can use Pu-based fuel stocks.

Current Pu-238 production is ~400 grams per year, a far cry from historical production through military breeder reactors (which is why I said “produced in quantity”). Pu-238 production has a ~1% yield via the Np-237 neutron bombardment method due to scarcity of Np-237 production, and LWR spent fuel Pu-238 purification is not considered cost effective. Details matter and I am considered a subject matter expert in this case. Not only do I deal with radioactive isotopes in my work but I am a member of the ACS technical division in Nuclear chemistry and technology.

 

[The Historical Fidelity]

Absolutely, categorically false.

"...Steven Biegalski, chair of the Nuclear and Radiological Engineering and Medical Physics Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology, said, “Pu-238 decays 100 percent of the time by alpha emissions, which are easily stopped by the housing of the pacemaker and are absolutely no threat outside the pacemaker.” The dose rate at the surface of these devices is approximately 5 to 15 mrem—about what one would receive from a chest X-ray. Essentially, there is close to zero risk involved with these devices....."

And:

"...The French [medical pacemaker] study found that the dose rate to the recipient of the pacemaker and to the general public did not show any significant increase and that the reliability of the pacemaker would allow the patient to “live a normal life for at least 10 years without any surgical intervention.” .... Some of the plutonium-powered pacemakers have lasted more than 30 years without requiring any intervention...."

“With bomb-grade enriched plutonium-239destined for critical research and for atomic weapon production, plutonium-238 was used in early medical experiments as it is unusable as atomic weapon fuel. However, 238Pu is far more dangerous than 239Pu due to its short half-life and being a strong alpha-emitter. It was soon found that plutonium was being excreted at a very slow rate, accumulating in test subjects involved in early human experimentation. This led to severe health consequences for the patients involved.”

The only reason the 137 total patients that ever received Pu-238 pacemakers was due to their consent in being a test subject in a long term research project. The dosage rate was low because the shielding built into the pacemaker was thick and heavy enough to limit doses to a chest x-ray which over a lifetime is considered harmful with the American College of Radiology setting a lifetime hard-cutoff of 10,000 chest x-rays. This additional volume and weight of the shielding made these devices impractical compared to lithium battery powered versions. Plus if these devices are not dangerous, then why did Los Alamos identify these pacemakers as a public source danger requiring recovery? Just because it’s not a danger to the public while inside the patient with its shielding intact, doesn’t mean it’s safe to remain in public hands.

“….The thermoelectric generator used Pu-238. Due to the extremely high risk and toxicity involved with using plutonium, numerous layers and shields were woven into these pacemakers resulting in larger and heavier devices….”

 

[Gururu]

Since the water filters will be better when my kid is an adult, she will be ok.

 

[PEnns]

I didn't read anything in the article if those batteries get hot or generate heat, if any.

If they become hot and you meet say, a woman wearing a watch with such a battery......telling her she's "hot", is not just a metaphor anymore.....

 

[TJ Hooker]

Basically over the 50 year lifetime of this battery, this negative beta decay will consume the majority of the nickel-63.

Ni-63 has a half life of ~100 years. https://ehs.princeton.edu/laborator...-materials/radioisotope-fact-sheets/nickel-63

So it'd take over twice the lifespan of these batteries for the majority to decay.

 

[TJ Hooker]

Absolutely, categorically false.

"...Steven Biegalski, chair of the Nuclear and Radiological Engineering and Medical Physics Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology, said, “Pu-238 decays 100 percent of the time by alpha emissions, which are easily stopped by the housing of the pacemaker and are absolutely no threat outside the pacemaker.” The dose rate at the surface of these devices is approximately 5 to 15 mrem—about what one would receive from a chest X-ray. Essentially, there is close to zero risk involved with these devices....."

And:

"...The French [medical pacemaker] study found that the dose rate to the recipient of the pacemaker and to the general public did not show any significant increase and that the reliability of the pacemaker would allow the patient to “live a normal life for at least 10 years without any surgical intervention.” .... Some of the plutonium-powered pacemakers have lasted more than 30 years without requiring any intervention...."

“With bomb-grade enriched plutonium-239destined for critical research and for atomic weapon production, plutonium-238 was used in early medical experiments as it is unusable as atomic weapon fuel. However, 238Pu is far more dangerous than 239Pu due to its short half-life and being a strong alpha-emitter. It was soon found that plutonium was being excreted at a very slow rate, accumulating in test subjects involved in early human experimentation. This led to severe health consequences for the patients involved.”

The only reason the 137 total patients that ever received Pu-238 pacemakers was due to their consent in being a test subject in a long term research project. The dosage rate was low because the shielding built into the pacemaker was thick and heavy enough to limit doses to a chest x-ray which over a lifetime is considered harmful with the American College of Radiology setting a lifetime hard-cutoff of 10,000 chest x-rays. This additional volume and weight of the shielding made these devices impractical compared to lithium battery powered versions. Plus if these devices are not dangerous, then why did Los Alamos identify these pacemakers as a public source danger requiring recovery? Just because it’s not a danger to the public while inside the patient with its shielding intact, doesn’t mean it’s safe to remain in public hands.

“….The thermoelectric generator used Pu-238. Due to the extremely high risk and toxicity involved with using plutonium, numerous layers and shields were woven into these pacemakers resulting in larger and heavier devices….”

If you're going to use quotes could you provide a source for those quotes?

 

[Gururu]

Ni-63 has a half life of ~100 years. https://ehs.princeton.edu/laborator...-materials/radioisotope-fact-sheets/nickel-63

So it'd take over twice the lifespan of these batteries for the majority to decay.

50 years to maintain the specification, another few thousand years to convert it all… you think I can make this stuff with my PSU?

 

[The Historical Fidelity]

Since the water filters will be better when my kid is an adult, she will be ok

Ni-63 has a half life of ~100 years. https://ehs.princeton.edu/laborator...-materials/radioisotope-fact-sheets/nickel-63

So it'd take over twice the lifespan of these batteries for the majority to decay.

Yes but you are not taking into account the fact that these Ni-63 atoms will be in an ionized state as the battery tech relies on the interactions between an electron hole and the semi-conductor and studies show that negative beta decay is particularly affected by ionization presenting a bound state scenario that promotes the separation of of the neutron into its components and capture of the resulting electron into the 1s, 2s shell. This can bring some Ni-63 atoms within the battery to decay within a month and a half instead of adhering to its “calculated or inferred half-life”