Alpha indirect conversion radioisotope power source

Radioluminescent nuclear batteries with different phosphor layers

“…The development of photovoltaic materials and technology facilitated the use of III-V photovoltaic cells in the radioluminescent nuclear battery since III-V photovoltaic cells have many advantages: direct band gap structures, large light absorption coefficient, and small leakage current [8]. Sychov et al [9] fabricated an indirect-conversion radioisotope battery based on 238 Pu/ZnS/AlGaAs with 21 lW power output. Prelas et al [10,11] investigated optoelectronic betavoltaic cells based on 85 Kr and diamond, and this work indicated that the using of wide bandgap photovoltaics in nuclear energy was a promising application.…”

An energy supply unit for an autonomous remote sensor system monitoring stored nuclear waste

“…7(b) (shown here to harness radiation from waste if the system was to be utilised for this application), much like a photovoltaic system harnessing photons. • Similarly to [25] Sychov et al [26] proposed exposing a phosphor compound to an ␣ radiation source and using a photovoltaic cell to convert the generated light to electrical energy, as illustrated in Fig. 7(c) (shown here to harness radiation from waste if the system was to be utilised for this application).…”

“…For example, in the case of utilising a continuously reciprocating beam (Lal et al [21][22][23]) for over 100 years to generate power there would be the possibility of the system failing before the required operating time due to fatigue. In the case of utilising phosphor and a photovoltaic cell, Sychov et al [26] state that the most stable phosphor compound tested dropped its radio-luminescence intensity to 19% after a duration of 411 h (17 days). In this application there is no guarantee that the radio-luminescence will remain at a suitable intensity after 100 years.…”

Development and synthesis of durable self-glowing crystals doped with plutonium

“…In our previous research we have observed self-glowing of highly radioactive zircon single crystals doped with 2-3 wt% 238 Pu [2]. The intensive glowing might be converted into electric current [3][4][5]. However, only materials with low content of radionuclides but intensive selfglowing are prospective for industrial scale application.…”