First in France

DIAMFAB and STMicroelectronics Achieve a First in France with a Long-lasting, Tiny Nuclear Battery

DIAMFAB, and STMicroelectronics have developed a diamond-tritium nuclear battery with state-of-the-art 10.5% efficiency, delivering power for up to 20 years. The technology paves the way to long-lasting, ultra-low power sources for use in sensors, space, healthcare, and industrial applications.

DIAMFAB, a deeptech pioneer in semiconductor diamond technology, together with STMicroelectronics(NYSE:STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, have announced a breakthrough in the development of tiny nuclear batteries. After four years of collaborative research and development under the Tbatt-Diamond project, theconsortium has successfully designed an innovative diamond-tritium beta-voltaic generator capable of producing continuous electrical energy over several decades.

A tritium-based beta-voltaic generator is a tiny nuclear battery that turns the natural decay of tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen, into electricity using semiconductormaterial, similarly to how a solar cell turns light into power. Because tritium decays slowly and its weak radiation is easily blocked, these generators can provide small amounts of power, safely and continuously for many years without recharging or maintenance.

This pioneering technology, combining synthetic diamond and recycled tritium from the nuclear industry, offers a path towards a new generation of compact, chemically inert, and mechanically robust nuclear batteries. These power sources are ideally suited for applications demanding exceptional longevity and reliability, including remote sensors, microsatellites, and autonomous systems operating in harsh environments. This breakthrough unlocks transformative possibilities across diverse sectors such as healthcare, aerospace, industrial monitoring, civil engineering, and defense.

“We have developed unique technological know-how in diamond beta-voltaic cell manufacturing and generator design,” said Gauthier Chicot, CEO of DIAMFAB. “This collaboration has expanded our understanding and opened pathways to future innovations. We are actively working with ESA and ORANO to create more powerful generators that will offer sovereign solutions for space exploration.”

“STMicroelectronics is at the forefront of R&D on ultra-low power microcontroller innovation and energy-harvesting technologies. Tbatt-Diamond demonstrates exciting possibilities for long-lasting nuclear micro-batteries that could power autonomous, maintenance-free devices that meet the highest standards of efficiency and reliability for future self-powered IoT and New Space applications,” said Philippe Roche, Company Fellow High Reliability and Head of Technology Explorations and Ecosystems at STMicroelectronics.