China’s Nuclear Batteries: 50-Year Power & US Competition

The development of long-duration nuclear batteries has emerged as a significant area of interest in the global energy sector, with Chinese firm Beijing Betavolt New Energy Technology Company Ltd claiming a major breakthrough in early 2024. The company unveiled the BV100, a miniature atomic energy battery designed to generate power through nuclear decay rather than chemical reactions. According to reporting from China Daily in January 2024, the device utilizes nickel-63, a nuclear isotope, alongside diamond semiconductors to convert decay energy into electricity. Betavolt stated that this technology could provide stable power generation for up to 50 years without requiring recharging or maintenance.

The technical specifications released by the company describe a device significantly smaller than conventional power sources. The BV100 battery measures 15×15×5 cubic millimeters, making it smaller than a coin. Despite its size, the unit reportedly delivers a voltage of three volts and a power output of 100 microwatts. Zhang Wei, CEO of the company, indicated that the battery produces no external radiation and remains operational within a temperature range of -60 C to 120 C. The energy density of these nuclear batteries is described as more than 10 times that of ternary lithium batteries, with the added safety feature of not catching fire or exploding even when punctured.

While China has advanced in miniaturized nuclear power, efforts are also underway in the United States. According to industry reporting, California-based Infinity Power has developed a nuclear battery with support from the U.S. Department of Defense. The company claims its energy conversion approach marks a high level of overall efficiency. Infinity Power describes its device as a tiny coin-cell-style unit capable of providing tens of milliwatts of power for over 100 years. These parallel developments suggest a competitive landscape forming around radioisotope power sources for specialized applications.

Broader Nuclear Energy Context

The progress in nuclear battery technology aligns with a wider trend in nuclear energy infrastructure where China is rapidly expanding its capacity. An analysis published by The New York Times in October 2025 highlighted that China is quickly becoming the global leader in nuclear power. The report noted that China has nearly as many reactors under construction as the rest of the world combined. Since 2013, China built 13 reactors similar to those attempted in the U.S., with 33 more underway during the same period.

In contrast, the United States faced significant challenges with new reactor construction. Construction began on the first two new U.S. Nuclear reactors in a generation in 2013 at the Vogtle plant in Georgia. However, these reactors were completed seven years late and $17 billion over budget, becoming two of the costliest ever built. By 2030, China’s nuclear capacity is set to surpass that of the United States. This infrastructure dominance provides a backdrop for smaller-scale innovations like nuclear batteries, where Beijing is also pushing breakthroughs in next-generation technologies.

Production Timelines and Limitations

Despite the initial announcements, the commercial availability of higher-output nuclear batteries remains uncertain. Betavolt claimed it planned to release its first one-watt battery in 2025, but industry monitoring suggests that did not occur. As of early 2026, there has not been substantial news on nuclear battery innovations from either Betavolt or Infinity Power following their initial reports. This delay indicates that turning experimental prototypes into mass-produced products may take longer than initial projections suggested.

The current BV100 model outputs 100 microwatts, which is sufficient for low-power devices but not yet for high-drain consumer electronics. Zhang Wei noted that if the power output is sufficient, mobile phones equipped with nuclear batteries will no longer need recharging. However, the company is collaborating with domestic universities to develop higher-power batteries using strontium-90, promethium-147, and deuterium isotopes. Until those higher-output models are realized, the technology remains best suited for specific industrial and scientific uses.

Potential Applications

The intended use cases for these long-endurance power supplies focus on sectors where battery replacement is difficult or impossible. Betavolt stated that once mass-produced, the batteries will meet needs in aerospace, artificial intelligence devices, medical equipment, microelectromechanical systems, sensors, small drones, and micro-robots. Popular Mechanics reported in March 2025 that such batteries could provide the backbone for industries like cybernetics or deep space missions that could fly us to the stars. In these scenarios, battery life akin to a human lifespan is crucial for long-term space exploration or life-saving medical interventions.

Nuclear batteries are not the only alternative energy storage technology under development. Researchers have developed a groundbreaking type of technology for a sulfur battery that could be more sustainable than lithium-ion batteries. Teams in China have made strides with thermal batteries. These parallel advancements remind the industry that multiple pathways exist to improve energy density and longevity beyond standard lithium-ion chemistry.

The underlying mechanism of these nuclear batteries involves capturing energy from beta particles, which are electrons or positrons that fly away from atomic nuclei during radioactive decay. This differs from the radioisotope thermoelectric generators NASA developed in the 1950s and 60s, which transferred heat from natural radioactive decay into practical energy. The new generation of batteries traps energy directly from the decay process using semiconductor converters. While the U.S. Led the way in nuclear battery innovation over the past 70 years, recent developments indicate a shift in momentum regarding mass production and deployment.