Chinese company Wuxi Beita Pharmatech , in collaboration with Northwest Normal University , has developed a prototype long-life nuclear battery. This design, named Zhulong-1 , is a power source based on carbon-14 ( C-14 ) and a silicon carbide ( SiC ) semiconductor, allowing for continuous electricity generation.
Long-life nuclear battery technology
The Zhulong-1 battery harnesses C-14, an isotope with a half-life of approximately 5,730 years, to emit beta particles that interact with the semiconductor, creating a reaction that generates a stable electric current.
According to Zhang Guanghui, a specialist and technology leader for the project, the key element of the development lies in the preparation of high-activity C-14 sources and the optimization of energy conversion efficiency. Tests conducted by the Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences confirmed the battery’s stability and advanced performance.
On the other hand, one of the most impressive aspects of Zhulong-1 is its ability to operate in extreme conditions, with a temperature range of -100 °C to 200 °C. In addition, its energy density is 10 times higher than that of lithium-ion batteries , with a degradation of less than 5% over 50 years .
These specifications make it ideal for applications ( IoT ), medical devices such as pacemakers and brain-computer interfaces, as well as in space exploration and extreme locations such as the deep ocean and Antarctica .
The research team is working on an improved version, the Zhulong-2 , with a focus on miniaturization and cost reduction . According to Cai Dinglong, project manager, the new model could be announced later this year or early next year, with a size equivalent to that of a coin.
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Source and photo: CGTN
