Gallium Nitride Schottky betavoltaic nuclear batteries

A method for the production of various morphologies of solid carbon product by reducing carbon oxides with a reducing agent in the presence of a catalyst. The carbon oxides are typically either carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. The reducing agent is typically either a hydrocarbon gas or hydrogen. The desired morphology of the solid carbon product may be controlled by the specific catalysts, reaction conditions and optional additives used in the reduction reaction. The resulting solid carbon products have many commercial applications.

Method for producing solid carbon by reducing carbon oxides

A liquid semiconductor-based radioisotope micropower source has been pioneerly developed. The semiconductor property of selenium was utilized along with a 166 MBq radioactive source of S35 as elemental sulfur. Using a liquid semiconductor-based Schottky diode, electrical power was distinctively generated from the radioactive source. Energetic beta radiations in the liquid semiconductor can produce numerous electron hole pairs and create a potential drop. The measured power from the microbattery is 16.2 nW with an open-circuit voltage of 899 mV and a short-circuit of 107.4 nA.

Radioisotope microbattery based on liquid semiconductor

An electric battery comprises a semiconductor junction incorporating an inorganic crystalline compound of Group III and Group V elements of the Periodic Table characterized by a predetermined annealing temperature for defects therein; a nuclear source of relatively high energy radiation and concomitant heat, which radiation causes generation of such defects in the semiconductor junction; and a thermal impedance enclosure for the nuclear source and the semiconductor-junction for retaining therewithin a sufficient quantity of heat to maintain a functional relationship between the generation of defects and the predetermined annealing temperature during operation.

High energy density nuclide-emitter, voltaic-junction battery

A Simple theoretical model for 63Ni betavoltaic battery

A new nuclear betavotaic battety is described. It uses a Schottky barrier in place of the more standard p-n junction diode, along with 147Pm metal film rather than Pm2O3 oxide as in the commercially available Betacel. Design details of the battery including measurement of absorption, conversion efficiency, thickness etc. as functions of & resistivity and other cell parameters are described. A prototype design is discussed and its performance assessed.

A. N. Tse

Papers

Schottky Barrier Betavoltaic Battery