Chinese researchers have unveiled Zhulong-1, the world's first carbon-14 nuclear battery, promising over a century of power without the need for recharging, China Daily reported. Developed by scientists at Northwest Normal University in Gansu and Wuxi Beita Pharmatech, the battery is designed to operate for 50 years but could last over 100 years in extreme conditions.
According to People's Daily, Zhulong-1 leverages the 5,730-year half-life of carbon-14, a weak radioactive isotope of carbon, to offer a theoretical service life spanning millennia, making it a reliable energy source over extended periods. The battery maintains performance even at extreme temperatures ranging from minus 100 degrees Celsius to 200 degrees Celsius, with a degradation rate of less than 5% over its designed lifespanv.
"It can support large-scale sensor networks. In extreme environments such as the deep sea, the poles, the Moon, and Mars, it can be used as a continuous power supply without maintenance. In deep space exploration, it can help spacecraft operate continuously," said Professor Su Maogen, according to La República. With an energy density ten times higher than commercial lithium-ion batteries, Zhulong-1 is suitable for applications where long-lasting, maintenance-free energy sources are required, People's Daily reported.
Zhulong-1 nuclear battery uses the radioactive decay of carbon-14 to produce electricity, converting the energy released into a steady flow of electrons using a silicon carbide semiconductor. The battery achieves an eight-percent energy conversion efficiency, has an open-circuit voltage of 2.1 volts, and demonstrates a short-circuit current of 282 nanoamps. The maximum output power of the Zhulong nuclear battery is 433 nanowatts, according to the same source.
China Daily reported that to validate its performance, the battery successfully powered an LED lamp continuously for nearly four months, completing over 35,000 pulsed flashes. Researchers further demonstrated Zhulong-1's utility by integrating the battery with a Bluetooth radio-frequency chip, which successfully transmitted and received wireless signals.
Zhulong-1 is named after the mythical Chinese dragon deity symbolizing eternal light and energy. "The technology allows for long-lasting devices in various applications, including medical implants, IoT sensors, and exploration in extreme environments," stated Professor Su, as reported by China Daily.
People's Daily reported that the research team is advancing a second-generation model named Zhulong-2, which is expected to be launched by the end of this year or early next year and will measure only the size of a coin. "Efforts will focus on reducing production costs and shrinking the size of Zhulong-2," stated Cai Dinglong.
Last year China began mass production of carbon-14 at a commercial nuclear reactor in Zhejiang Province, reducing dependence on foreign sources. Historically, China has relied on imports of carbon-14 from countries such as Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Russia.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.