Radioisotope Batteries for MEMS



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What is a Nuclear Battery?

Goal: convert energy from radioactive decay to electricity
•Options:
–Direct charge collection
–Indirect (scintillation)
–Betavoltaic
–Thermoelectric
–Thermionic
–thermophotovoltaic


Isotope Selection


Type of radiation
–Alpha
–Beta
•Half-Life
–Long -> Long battery life
–Short -> Higher power
•Avoid gammas in the decay chain
•Watch out for (alpha, n) reactions
•Watch particle range


Direct conversion nuclear battery


Direct conversion nuclear battery: collecting charges emitted from radioisotopes with a capacitor to achieve high voltage output


Secondary Collector

•Use beta source
•MgOused to maximize secondary’s
•Collector is graphite coated Al
•1e-5 mm Hg vacuum