Type of nuclear battery which generates electric current
This article is about devices that generate electricity directly from beta particles. For devices that use photocells, see optoelectric nuclear battery.
A betavoltaic device (betavoltaic cell or betavoltaic battery) is a type of nuclear battery which generates electric current from beta particles (electrons) emitted from a radioactive source, using semiconductor junctions. A common source used is the hydrogen isotope tritium. Unlike most nuclear power sources which use nuclear radiation to generate heat which then is used to generate electricity, betavoltaic devices use a non-thermal conversion process, converting the electron-hole pairs produced by the ionization trail of beta particles traversing a semiconductor.[1]
Betavoltaic power sources (and the related technology of alphavoltaic power sources[2]) are particularly well-suited to low-power electrical applications where long life of the energy source is needed, such as implantable medical devices or military and space applications.[1]
^ abKatherine Bourzac (2009-11-17). "A 25-Year Battery: Long-lived nuclear batteries powered by hydrogen isotopes are in testing for military applications". Technology Review. MIT. Archived from the original on 2012-01-19.
^NASA Glenn Research Center, Alpha- and Beta-voltaics Archived 2011-10-18 at the Wayback Machine (accessed October 4, 2011)
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