충전 없이 50년 쓰는 배터리, 한국서 첫 실증

Korea Tests a Beta Battery That Runs 50 Years Without Charging

Part of the July 27, 2026 daily edition

충전하지 않아도 50년 동안 쓸 수 있는 배터리가 한국에서 처음으로 만들어졌습니다. 한국전기연구원 연구팀이 이 ’베타전지’를 만들고 실험에 성공했습니다. 이 배터리는 탄화규소라는 소재로 만들어서 뜨거운 열이나 방사선에도 잘 견딥니다. 니켈-63이라는 물질에서 나오는 베타선을 전기로 바꾸는 방식으로 작동합니다. 이번에 만든 배터리는 전에 한국에서 실험했던 것보다 성능이 6만 배나 더 좋아졌습니다. 그래서 햇빛이 없는 우주나 깊은 바다, 아주 추운 곳, 땅속 같은 곳에서도 오래 쓸 수 있습니다. 이 연구는 경남대학교 교수팀과 함께 했고, 외국의 과학 잡지에도 실렸습니다.

Background

A 베타전지 (beta battery) does not store charge the way a phone battery does: it converts the beta particles that a decaying radioisotope — here 니켈-63, nickel-63 — gives off steadily into a small, continuous current, which is what makes an unattended 50-year life possible in the first place. The trade-off is power, since batteries of this type put out very little of it, so the settings the article lists — space, the deep sea, the far cold, underground — are places where an instrument must keep running for decades on its own rather than places that need much energy. Worth noticing in the subject slot: 한국전기연구원 is a state-funded research institute, and the -연구원/-연구소 ending marks the actor in a Korean science story as a laboratory, so what is being reported is a successful test, not a product going on sale.

Translation

A battery that can run for 50 years without being charged has been made in Korea for the first time. A research team at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) built this 'beta battery' and succeeded in testing it. The battery is made from a material called silicon carbide, so it holds up well against high heat and radiation. It works by turning beta rays given off by a substance called nickel-63 into electricity. Its performance is about 60,000 times better than earlier tests done in Korea. Because of this, it can be used for a long time in places without sunlight, such as space, the deep sea, very cold regions, and underground. The research was done together with a professor's team at Kyungnam University, and it was also published in a science journal abroad.

Vocabulary

충전하다동사 (verb)to charge (a battery)
탄화규소명사 (noun)silicon carbide
방사선명사 (noun)radiation
베타선명사 (noun)beta ray
성능명사 (noun)performance

Grammar points

-아서/어서 (이유·순서)because; and then

Attaches to a verb or adjective stem to show a reason or a sequential action, meaning "because ~, so ~" or "~ and then ~."

Example: 날씨가 추워서 옷을 많이 입었습니다.

It was cold, so I wore a lot of clothes.

N(이)라는called N

Placed before a noun to introduce or quote something, meaning "(a thing) called N."

Example: 저는 오늘 탄화규소라는 소재를 처음 알았습니다.

Today I learned for the first time about a material called silicon carbide.

N보다 (더)more than N

Used to compare two things, meaning "more than N."

Example: 오늘이 어제보다 더 덥습니다.

Today is hotter than yesterday.

충전 없이 50년 쓰는 배터리, 한국서 첫 실증

Translation

Vocabulary

Grammar points

-아서/어서 (이유·순서)because; and then

N(이)라는called N

N보다 (더)more than N

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