Review—Betavoltaic Cell: The Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

In recent years, betavoltaic batteries have become an ideal power source for micro electromechanical systems. Betavoltaic battery is a device that converts the decay energy of beta emitting radioisotope sources into electrical energy using transducers. They have the advantages of high energy density, long service life, strong anti-interference ability, small size, light weight, easy miniaturization and integration, thus it has become a research hotspot in the field of micro energy. However, to date, the low energy conversion efficiencies as well as technological limitations of betavoltaic batteries impede their further application. In this review, the theory of betavoltaic energy conversion and recent understanding of the ideal material and structure design of the betavoltaic batteries for efficient exciton production, dissociation and charge transport is described, as well as recent attempts to realize optimum results. This review article concludes by identifying the remaining challenges for the improvement of battery performance and by providing perspectives toward real application of betavoltaic batteries.

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

“…The half-life is the period required for a quantity to reduce to half of its initial value. The equation of half-life is calculated using eqs and , , N = N 0 e − λ t λ = e − 0.693 t / τ where N is the number of radioisotope parent nucleus remaining from the decay, N 0 is the initial number of parent nucleus, λ is the decay constant, t is time, and τ is the half-life of the radioisotope. Since betavoltaic battery uses the β-particles emitted from the radioisotope as an energy source, the long half-life of the radioisotope provides a continuous energy supply and a long shelf life.…”

“…Therefore, pure β − decaying radioisotopes are the best energy source for a betavoltaic battery. 17 Table S1 (Supporting Information) shows the commonly used pure β − decaying radioisotopes. 24,25 There are several factors to consider before choosing a radioisotope for a betavoltaic battery, such as half-life, decay energy of the radiation (maximum and average decay radiation), and the specific power of the radioisotope.…”

“…From 1968 to 1974, researchers at Donald W. Douglas Laboratories led by Larry Olsen further developed a betavoltaic battery, known as the Betacel, used in pacemakers . Since then, several manufacturers, including City Laboratories and Qynergy, have expressed interest in betavoltaic battery technology investment. , In particular, City Laboratories’ Nano-Tritium betavoltaic battery was awarded the betavoltaic industry’s first general license for manufacturing and distribution, allowing it to be purchased by any user . Recently, the EU has classified nuclear energy as a green taxonomy, causing a surge of interest in several countries concerning its production .…”

Theoretical aspects of direct conversion of radio-chemical energy in electric by radiation-stimulated SiC*/Si heterostructure

“…We are interested in SiC as an energy converter in photovoltaics and betavoltaics. The last direction is rapidly developing nowdays [1]. We can collect all technologies of obtaining this material in four groups.…”

Experimental and simulation study of power performance improvement of GaN PIN betavoltaic cell

“…To obtain the maximum efficiency, the short-circuit current (I SC ) and the open-circuit voltage (V OC ) of BV cell must be improved. By investigating the literature, [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] it was found that the parameters, such as a doping concentration and a thickness of p-, i-, n-type layers, a width of depletion region, a position of depletion region and radioisotope source, and a surface geometry, affected the I SC and V OC of BV cells. Especially, the design optimization of depletion region was very important because electron-hole pairs (EHPs) by emitting β-particles are mostly generated in depletion region.…”