Chinese scientists claim to have developed the country's first carbon-based nuclear battery that is said to be capable of operating for a century without needing to be recharged.
The ultra-long-lasting nuclear battery, dubbed Zhulong-1, could be used to power pacemakers (which can currently last up to 15 years), as well as spacecraft and devices deployed in harsh environments such as polar regions and the deep sea, according to a March 13 announcement from Northwest Normal University in China’s Gansu province, according to the South China Morning Post .
The nuclear battery was developed by a team of scientists from Northwest Normal University in China's Gansu province.
Photo: SCMP screenshot
While not mentioning electric cars, the research team from Northwest Normal University said the green and low-carbon characteristics of the new nuclear batteries could "promote the upgrading of China's new energy industrial chain."
The Zhulong-1 nuclear battery was designed to operate for 50 years, but a statement from Northwest Normal University said the new battery could operate for more than 100 years under harsh conditions.
The battery can operate stably in a temperature range of minus 100 degrees Celsius to 200 degrees Celsius, with an energy density 10 times higher than commercial lithium-ion batteries and a degradation rate of less than 5 percent over a design life of 50 years, Xinhua news agency quoted project leader Cai Dinglong as saying.
In addition, Mr. Zhang Guanghui, technical leader of the nuclear battery project at Northwest Normal University, said: "Theoretically, this battery can operate for thousands of years because of the long half-life of carbon-14 of 5,730 years." Half-life is the time required for a radioactive isotope to decay to half its original value.
The team is working on a second-generation model, Zhulong-2, with efforts focused on reducing manufacturing costs and miniaturizing the vehicle. “Zhulong-2 is expected to be launched late this year or early next year, and it will be only the size of a coin,” Cai said.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trung-quoc-che-tao-pin-hat-nhan-hoat-dong-hon-100-nam-khong-can-sac-185250314105809809.htm
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