Gamma-Ray-Driven Photovoltaic Cellsviaa Scintillator Interface

Abstract

A new theoretical model of gamma ray photovoltaic cells is presented with calculations of efficiency , open circuit voltage V oc , and maximum output power P 0max . The model incorporates a scintillator interfaced between the high-energy nuclear isomer and the semiconductor materials of the photovoltaic cell. High-energy -photons, E 1 ¼ 1:333 MeV and E 2 ¼ 1:173 MeV, emanate from nuclear isomers Nickel-60m1/m2 of Nickel-60 in Cobalt-60 decay. The scintillator converts the -photons into large numbers of low-energy photons. The latter photons illuminate the semiconductor materials of the photovoltaic cell. Such devices can have enhanced , V oc , and a much longer operational life than those driven by Thorium-229m1/m2. Results are reported for devices with scintillators of various maximum emission wavelengths max and yields y. One mol of Cobalt-60, combined with a high-y and short-max scintillator, can produce V oc $ 10 V and P 0max of several hundred W/m 2 to few times the AM0 power at about 70%. These are significant, indicating that these gamma ray photovoltaic cells have the potential to make a considerable contribution to electrical energy generation. Calculations are also performed using isomer Hafnium-178m2 (E ¼ 2:4 MeV, T 1=2 ¼ 31 yr).

A diamond gammavoltaic cell utilizing surface conductivity and its response to different photon interaction mechanisms

“…However, at time of writing, they still require the application of a small (< 1 V) bias and are in that sense still detectors rather than standalone voltaics. Liakos, along with a theoretical treatment of scintillator-based gammavoltaics for Co-60 [18], has also modelled the effectiveness of using Th-229, which emits gamma rays with very low energies [7], as a safe in-built radioisotope [19]. To our knowledge, though the studies were promising, these devices were never made.…”