Skip to content
6CCVD Research

Optimal Selection and Experimental Verification of Wide-Bandgap Semiconductor for Betavoltaic Battery

At a Glance

Section titled ā€œAt a Glanceā€
MetadataDetails
Publication Date2025-04-22
JournalNanomaterials
AuthorsZhang Jiachen, Ke Lv, Yuan Yin, Yuqian Gao, Ye Tian
InstitutionsNorth University of China, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science
Citations3

Abstract

Section titled ā€œAbstractā€

Wide-bandgap semiconductor betavoltaic batteries have a promising prospect in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems for high power density and long working life, but their material selection is still controversial. Specifically, the silicon carbide (SiC) betavoltaic battery was reported to have higher efficiency, although its bandgap is lower than that of gallium nitride (GaN) or diamond, which is inconsistent with general assumptions. In this work, the effects of different semiconductor characteristics on the battery energy conversion process are systematically analyzed to explain this phenomenon, including beta particle energy deposition, electron-hole pair (EHP) creation energy and EHPs collection efficiency. Device efficiencies of the betavoltaic battery using SiC, GaN, diamond, gallium oxide (Ga2O3), aluminum nitride (AlN) and boron nitride (BN) are compared to determine the optimum semiconductor. Results show that SiC for the betavoltaic battery has higher efficiency than GaN, Ga2O3 and AlN because of higher EHPs collection efficiency, less energy loss and fewer material defects, which is the optimal selection currently. SiC betavoltaic batteries were prepared, with the device efficiency having reached 14.88% under an electron beam, and the device efficiency recorded as 7.31% under an isotope source, which are consistent with the predicted results. This work provides a theoretical and experimental foundation for the material selection of betavoltaic batteries.

Tech Support

Section titled ā€œTech Supportā€

Original Source

Section titled ā€œOriginal Sourceā€

References

Section titled ā€œReferencesā€
  1. 2017 - A methodology for efficiency optimization of betavoltaic cell design using an isotropic planar source having an energy dependent beta particle distribution [Crossref]
  2. 2020 - Understanding Efficiency Differences of Betavoltaic Batteries Measured by Electron Gun Mimicked Source and Radioactive Ī² Source [Crossref]
  3. 2020 - Highly Stable GaN-Based Betavoltaic Structures Grown on Different Dislocation Density Substrates [Crossref]
  4. 2016 - Single Crystal CVD Diamond Membranes for Betavoltaic Cells [Crossref]
  5. 2021 - Electron Beam Irradiation of Gallium Nitride-On-Silicon Betavoltaics Fabricated with a Triple Mesa Etch [Crossref]
  6. 2020 - Efficiency Prediction of Planar Betavoltaic Batteries Basing on Precise Modeling of Semiconductor Units [Crossref]

Reads Similar to This

Advanced electrochemical detection of arsenic using platinum-modified boron-doped diamond by anodic stripping voltammetry Well-Defined Boron/Nitrogen-Doped Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Are Active Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction A comparative study for the electrochemical regeneration of adsorbents loaded with methylene blue