NUCL 53 |
| Advantages of radioisotope-powered batteries include long service life, wide operation temperature range and high energy density. Here we report development of long-life battery based on indirect conversion of alpha energy for emerging microelectronics and MEMS applications. Indirect conversion approach offers an advantage of smaller device size and higher stability while alpha emitter provides high energy density. For battery prototyping we used Pu-238 alpha-emitters and AlGaAs photovoltaic cells specially designed for the low light intensity conditions. Number of phosphors was tested and most suitable to match response curve of given photovoltaics was identified. Plutonium emitters, phosphor screens and voltaic arrays were assembled into a power source with following characteristics: Isc=14uA; Uoc=2.3V; power output – 21uW. Overall conversion efficiency exceeded 0.5% for the best samples while stability was much better comparing to the alpha-direct conversion devices. Using prototype battery we have powered an electronic watch and 8-digit electronic calculator. |
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Radioisotopes for Microbatteries and MEMS
1:30 PM-4:50 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Room 272, Oral
Division of Nuclear Chemistry & Technology |