China achieves microwatt milestone with self-reliant carbon-14 nuclear battery

Chinese researchers have developed a new-generation nuclear battery that far surpasses its predecessor and marks a major step in long-life power sources, according to the team.

Northwest Normal University, in collaboration with Chinese tech firm Gansu Zhulong Technology, unveiled a carbon‑14 nuclear battery and silicon carbide (SiC) transducer on Monday, saying the equipment was developed without any foreign technology or parts.

The Qianjiyuan Tianshu battery is a major upgrade from the team’s earlier Candle Dragon‑I, or Zhulong-1, prototype unveiled in November 2024.

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Compared with its predecessor, the new battery cuts radioactive material use to just 22 per cent, boosting short‑circuit current to 2.5 times and maximum power to 2.6 times – all while maintaining the same voltage and stability. Among performance gains, the effective volume of the device shrank to just 17 per cent of the original, resulting in a dramatic 15.5‑fold increase in volumetric power density.

Su Maogen, who leads the project team at Northwest Normal University, said carbon‑14 had a half‑life of 5,730 years, giving the battery a theoretical lifespan of thousands of years.

In a statement from the university, Su said the device operated reliably between minus 100 degrees and 200 degrees Celsius (-148 to 392 Fahrenheit), making it suitable for medical implants, use in deep‑sea and polar regions, and defence and aerospace applications.

“Nuclear batteries are vital for space exploration, polar missions, specialised equipment and unmanned operations, and are also a key part of China’s new-energy strategy,” China’s official Science and Technology Daily reported on Tuesday.

“Earlier versions suffered from low power, poor integration and high costs, so the team focused on making the device compact, powerful, affordable and fully domestically produced.”