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6CCVD Research

Ultrahigh conversion efficiency of betavoltaic cell using diamond pn junction

At a Glance

Section titled ā€œAt a Glanceā€
MetadataDetails
Publication Date2020-09-08
JournalApplied Physics Letters
AuthorsTakehiro Shimaoka, Hitoshi Umezawa, Kimiyoshi Ichikawa, Julien Pernot, Satoshi Koizumi
InstitutionsCentre National de la Recherche Scientifique, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Citations37

Abstract

Section titled ā€œAbstractā€

A betavoltaic cell, which directly converts beta particles into energy, is composed of a junction diode and a beta-emitting source. Because the cells can deliver electricity over a long operation life ranging from several years to a decade, they are promising devices for applications in remote locations such as outer space, deserts, and underground areas. Herein, we report efficient energy conversion using a diamond pn junction. We characterized the betavoltaic performance under electron-beam irradiation using scanning electron microscopy and observed an open-circuit voltage of 4.26 V, a fill factor of 0.85, and a semiconductor conversion efficiency of 28%. These are the best values reported thus far for betavoltaic cells. The efficiency is close to the theoretical Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit for betavoltaic cells.

Tech Support

Section titled ā€œTech Supportā€

Original Source

Section titled ā€œOriginal Sourceā€

References

Section titled ā€œReferencesā€
  1. 1954 - The electron-voltaic effect in pāˆ’n junctions induced by beta-particle bombardment [Crossref]
  2. 1993 - Review of betavoltaic energy conversion
  3. 2019 - High power direct energy conversion by nuclear batteries [Crossref]
  4. 2019 - Optimal semiconductors for 3H and 63Ni betavoltaics [Crossref]
  5. 2018 - High power density nuclear battery prototype based on diamond Schottky diodes [Crossref]
  6. 1961 - Detailed balance limit of efficiency of p-n junction solar cells [Crossref]
  7. 2006 - Demonstration of a radiation resistant, high efficiency SiC betavoltaic [Crossref]
  8. 2006 - Demonstration of a 4H-SiC betavoltaic cell [Crossref]
  9. 2016 - High efficiency 4H-SiC betavoltaic power sources using tritium radioisotopes [Crossref]
  10. 2009 - Ultra-high efficiency power density thinned-down silicon carbide betavoltaics

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