Study of radiation damage in SrI<inf>2</inf> for ⁹⁰Sr based betabatteries

Abstract

Betabatteries can provide long term power in applications where there is no access to other energy sources, for example space exploration, deep see sensors, and implantable devices. Traditional betabattery approaches suffer from two significant limitations: radiation damage in the semiconductor diode severely limits their lifetime, and self absorption in the source places an upper limit on the strength of the source. We are developing a device that overcomes both problems using a novel approach based on a scintillator grown with beta emitting atoms in its crystal structure. We present the results of electron beam induced radiation damage in the scintillators which is the limiting factor on the practical lifetime of a 90 Sri SrI2 based betabattery.

Radiation hardness of polycrystalline ceramic scintillators for radioisotope batteries

“…This limits the materials which can be used in direct conversion schemes. In contrast, indirect conversion schemes intrinsically are less efficient when compared to ideal direct conversion methods, but the materials used often possess greater radiation hardness and are more tolerant to radiation induced defects 5,6 .…”