Betavoltaic Nuclear Battery: A Review of Recent Progress and Challenges as an Alternative Energy Source

Abstract

Nuclear energy is considered a suitable and eco-friendly alternative for combating the rising greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from excessive fossil fuel consumption. Betavoltaic battery is a form of nuclear technology that utilizes the decay energy of β-emitting radioisotopes to produce electrical power. Owing to its long shelf life, high specific energy density, and ability to work under extreme conditions, it has been a subject of considerable research attention in the past few years. Despite significant research on betavoltaic battery, several impediments to realizing high energy conversion efficiency and maximum power density have yet to be overcome. This Review Article comprehensively discusses the challenges and recent research progress of betavoltaic battery development. First, promising strategies for improving betavoltaic battery performance, theoretical principles, and equations for quantifying betavoltaic battery efficiency are discussed. Then a thorough overview of several β-radiation absorbing materials, such as traditional semiconductors, metal oxides, and organic/inorganic materials, is explored. Finally, the outlook for betavoltaic battery is discussed before concluding the review.

Limit Efficiency of a Silicon Betavoltaic Battery with Tritium Source

“…Intrinsic rather than doped silicon is chosen as the basis material of the battery in order to minimize the recombination losses. Indeed, it has been shown that the maximal limit efficiency of a silicon solar cell is achieved in the limit of zero doping [23], and same is true in the case of a betavoltaic cell [3]. In this idealized model, we assume that the T/Si layer is so thin that the self-absorption effect can be neglected.…”

“…Here, E is measured in eV, F(E) in eV/Å, the distance s is measured along the velocity of the beta, Z = 14 and A = 28.085 are atomic charge and mass numbers, and ρ = 2.329 g/cm 3 is the density of Si, for which J = 172 eV, and k = 0.822. This formula becomes inaccurate at electron energies below 50 eV [34].…”

“…Betavoltaic batteries are long-lifetime low-power sources that convert the energy of electrons produced in a beta-decay reaction into electricity [1][2][3]. They have a special niche in industrial applications, which includes autonomous devices used in hard-to-reach areas, such as outer space [4,5] or a human body, where beta-batteries can power up implants of various kinds [6].…”

Perspective, Review, and Featured Articles of 2023

“…Meanwhile, Yin and co-workers summarized the challenges and future directions for developing batteries that can perform and persist at extremely fast-charging (XFC) conditions . In a different approach to energy storage, the progress and challenges in the development of betavoltaic nuclear batteries was reviewed by Naseem et al Zhang and co-workers discussed the strategies involved in detecting and preventing the formation of gas hydrates in deepwater transportation of natural gas and oil. The challenges in this field are similar to those found in clathrate gas extraction and storage …”