Nuked 
Hello, tech enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving into the exciting realm of fusion power and how a new startup, Hexium, is stepping up to tackle some of the biggest challenges in the field.
Fusion startups face a daunting task: creating a power plant that outputs more energy than it consumes. This ambitious goal is not just about proving the technology works; it’s also about demonstrating scalability and ensuring profitability to attract investors.
But there’s an often-overlooked hurdle: sourcing fuel. While many fusion startups assert they will produce their own fuel, the reality is more complex. To generate tritium, a fusion fuel component, a rare isotope of lithium is required, and that supply is currently scarce.
Recognizing this gap, Charlie Jerrott and Jacob Peterson, former colleagues at Focused Energy, launched Hexium. With a mission to solve fusion’s fuel supply dilemma, they have successfully raised $8 million in seed funding.
Hexium’s approach revolves around atomic vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS), a technology developed during the 1980s for sorting uranium isotopes. Despite its past, AVLIS is now being adapted to isolate lithium isotopes with remarkable precision.
The innovative method utilizes low-power lasers capable of finely tuning into the wave functions of lithium isotopes. By focusing on lithium-6, Hexium can separate it from lithium-7, ensuring the production of essential fuel for fusion reactors while also catering to conventional nuclear reactors in need of lithium-7.
In the coming year, Hexium plans to use its funding to construct a pilot plant. If successful, this prototype could lead to modular production capable of generating significant quantities of lithium-6 without the need for sprawling facilities.
Stay tuned as we watch how Hexium and others continue to innovate in the realm of fusion energy!
