Initially, the RTG on the Perseverance rover produced about 110 watts of electricity, but that power decreased each year as plutonium decayed.
Radioisotope thermoelectric generators are a great way to power distant space probes. However, plutonium-238 is very toxic. Fortunately, Betavolt’s recently developed batteries use a different process to generate energy. Some of the radioactive isotopes in them decay due to beta radiation. This means they emit electrons.
If we put thin layers of such an isotope between layers of semiconductors, we can capture electrons and convert them into useful electricity.
The new Betavolt batteries use the nickel-63 isotope between diamond semiconductor layers. Their power output is very low: 100 microwatts, compared to 2.4 watts for a normal AA battery. However, after just one hour of operation at this power, the latter will be discharged, and the Betavolt battery will be able to provide useful voltage for 50 years. This is because nickel-63 decays very slowly. Its half-life is 101 years.
Betavolt batteries are very safe. You would have to break and swallow them to damage them. Additionally, radioactive nickel eventually decays into non-radioactive copper.
Source: Ferra
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