Theoretical Maximum Efficiency for a Linearly Graded Alphavoltaic Nuclear Battery

Oh, Kyuhak; Prelas, Mark A.; Lukosi, Eric; Rothenberger, Jason B.; Schott, Robert J.; Weaver, Charles L.; Montenegro, Daniel E.; Wisniewski, Denis

doi:10.13182/nt12-a14096

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…These authors pointed out that, assuming the same conversion efficiency, the energy density of an α‐voltaic cell can be a factor ~ 100 greater than that of a similar β‐voltaic device. Theorical studies compared the conversion efficiencies of SiC in β‐ and α‐voltaic devices, finding for the last ones a maximum efficiency of 3.6% 56 . This paper suggested that the better performances of α‐voltaics with respect to β‐voltaics were due to the better scaling of alpha energy deposition within a large range of converter dimensions.…”

Section: Basic Concepts and Conversion Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Theorical studies compared the conversion efficiencies of SiC in βand α-voltaic devices, finding for the last ones a maximum efficiency of 3.6%. 56 This paper suggested that the better performances of α-voltaics with respect to β-voltaics were due to the better scaling of alpha energy deposition within a large range of converter dimensions.…”

Section: Alpha-voltaicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 In nuclear batteries is used p-type doped diamond, a semiconductor characterized by higher conversion efficiency with respect to the n-doped one. 56 Moreover, several different diamond Schottky barrier diodes configurations have been designed. The more common structures of the converter layers are the quasi-vertical and the vertical ones.…”

Section: Alpha-voltaicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nuclear batteries: Current context and near‐term expectations

Terranova

2022

Intl J of Energy Research

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Summary The batteries fuelled by radio‐isotopes have represented a significant technological solution for planetary science and exploration missions since the beginning of the space era. Now emerging researches and new concepts are making the nuclear batteries attractive also for relevant terrestrial applications. The present survey aims to summarize the evolution of technical programmes and to examine the multidisciplinary skills required to accelerate the transition of nuclear batteries from laboratory prototypes to fully functional systems.

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Section: Basic Concepts and Conversion Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Alpha-voltaicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Alpha-voltaicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nuclear batteries: Current context and near‐term expectations

Terranova

2022

Intl J of Energy Research

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“…This formula suggests that one should use broad-bandgap materials for best efficiency value. For this reason, recent studies have been focused on such materials as diamond [11,12], silicon carbide [13][14][15][16][17], gallium arsenide [18], zinc oxide [19], and gallium nitrate [20]. If one adopts Klein's parameters [9], one obtains the ultimate efficiency of a beta-battery based on a broad-bandgap semiconductor 1/A = 36%; using the parameters from [10], one obtains an even more optimistic estimate of 65%, which, admittedly, is too good to be true.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Limit Efficiency of a Silicon Betavoltaic Battery with Tritium Source

Evstigneev,

Afkani,

Sokolovskyi

2023

Micromachines

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An idealized design of a silicon betavoltaic battery with a tritium source is considered, in which a thin layer of tritiated silicon is sandwiched between two intrinsic silicon slabs of equal width, and the excess charge carriers are collected by thin interdigitated n+ and p+ electrodes. The opposite sides of the device are covered with a reflecting coating to trap the photons produced in radiative recombination events. Due to photon recycling, radiative recombination is almost ineffective, so the Auger mechanism dominates. An analytical expression for the current–voltage curve is obtained, from which the main characteristics of the cell, namely, the open-circuit voltage, the fill factor, and the betaconversion efficiency, are found. The analytical results are shown to agree with the numerical ones with better than 0.1% accuracy. The optimal half-thickness of this device is found to be around 1.5 μm. The maximal efficiency increases logarithmically with the surface activity of the beta-source and has the representative value of 12.07% at 0.1 mCi/cm2 and 14.13% at 10 mCi/cm2.

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“…Am and 210 Po have been used in alpha source fuelled batteries. 3,4 The maximum modeled efficiency is between 2-4% for the alphavoltaic batteries. 3 On the other hand, 63 Ni and 147 Pm are used in beta source fuelled batteries.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospect of nuclear battery as energy source in artificial organs

Khan

Islam

2018

IRATJ

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In order to find an energy source with higher longevity than conventional sources, many scientists and researchers have proposed use of radioactive elements with sufficient half-lives. The most common approach for extracting energy is to utilize the decay heat of a radioactive element to produce electricity. This concept has paved the way to the development of nuclear battery, which is believed to be a prominent source of energy in future. This work focuses on the adequacy of the current designs in generating useful amount of energy that may be sufficient to be used to drive artificial organs. This paper also analyzes the potential human health hazards due implanting these radioactive elements inside the body and how they can be minimized. The study indicates that the available technologies to harvest nuclear energy from the source may not generate sufficient output to operate an artificial organ with high power requirements but may be suitable for devices with low power requirements.

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Theoretical Maximum Efficiency for a Linearly Graded Alphavoltaic Nuclear Battery

Cited by 13 publications

References 10 publications

Nuclear batteries: Current context and near‐term expectations

Nuclear batteries: Current context and near‐term expectations

Limit Efficiency of a Silicon Betavoltaic Battery with Tritium Source

Prospect of nuclear battery as energy source in artificial organs

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