Nuclear batteries are a completely new concept and are a part of devices that we use every day. A nuclear battery produces electricity by using the energy released during the radioactive decay of a nuclear isotope, using specialized converters.
Such batteries are a great technological advance and have excellent features such as durability. Still, whenever someone mentions radioactivity and nuclear processes, there is some concern raised.
Nevertheless, electricity generated in this way is safe and produced at a smaller scale, compared to large nuclear reactors, which most people associate with electricity production.
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The Chinese company Betavolt has been using a combination of technologies to produce nuclear batteries which are now the size of a small coin. These batteries provide electricity that is produced by the decay of the radioactive element nickel-63. Because of its multi-layer construction, Betavolt claims the risk of the battery catching fire or exploding is minimal, according to World Nuclear News.
However, the use of nuclear batteries is not without controversy, as we have already stated. There are environmental concerns, given that radioactive materials are used. The use of such minerals and materials for products in everyday use could potentially run into legal hurdles, but it is still too early to tell, given that the product has not been launched for wider commercial use at the moment, although there are plans to use it in drones and phones.
Energy portal
