Apart from the lithium-ion sector, other battery technologies face challenges when it comes to smartphones. These include issues such as electromotive force (potential difference between anode and cathode), cycle characteristics (durability), energy density (space-saving), material stability in the air (safety), and mass production (cost). While these technologies may be promising for industrial fields like drones and EVs, they are mostly unsuitable for smartphones, or if there is potential, there are still many hurdles before they can be widely adopted. Consequently, very few experts expect non-lithium-ion battery technologies to be used in smartphone batteries by 2030.
Since 2000, there have been many reports about breakthroughs in battery technology, but none have been adopted for smartphones. Taking this into consideration, we at our company recognize two major challenges for adopting nuclear batteries in smartphones.
Nuclear Battery Challenge ①: Insufficient “Miniaturization” for Use in Smartphones According to the published specs of the nuclear batteries, the power output per liter is only 0.1 watts (0.1W/L). Currently, lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones have a power output of 1,000 watts per liter (1,000W/L).
This creates a significant gap in “space-saving” capabilities, which refers to how powerful a battery can be implemented in a limited space. Unless we assume mobile devices larger than the “shoulder phones” of 1985 when mobile phones first appeared in Japan, it seems impossible to use nuclear batteries as built-in batteries. The chance of their adoption in the currently common smartphone sizes is almost negligible, especially considering the higher power consumption of smartphones compared to shoulder phones, which lacked data transmission functions and high-definition displays.
Nuclear Battery Challenge ②: High Difficulty in Obtaining PSE Mark, CE Mark, etc. Obtaining certifications like the PSE Mark (which certifies the safety of electrical products in Japan) or the CE Mark (required in Europe and the US) presents significant hurdles for nuclear battery technologies. Since nuclear technology inherently involves radiation emissions, any adaptation for consumer devices would require measures to block radiation and nuclear contamination harmful to humans.
For electrical products incorporating nuclear batteries to be sold worldwide, they must pass stringent durability trials, including tests for drops/collisions, high/low temperatures, and fires, to objectively verify safety. Nuclear technology has never been used outside of remote power stations or military equipment. The likelihood is low that national certification bodies, responsible for liability in accidents, would approve the use of nuclear technology in durable consumer items carried by almost everyone.