Scintillator Efficiency and Radiation Damage Mechanisms in Alpha-Photovoltaics

Abstract

When used in conjunction with photovoltaics (PVs), scintillators can function as compact alpha-radiation energy converters to form analpha-photovoltaic (APV). Several materials were evaluated for their suitability as APV scintillators by measuring their luminosity, conversion efficiency, and degradation under alpha-radiation exposure. Conversion efficiency was evaluated by comparing PV output power to incident alpha-radiation power. To assess the luminosity, a PV-based measurement system was designed to quantify the alpha induced light yield (ph/MeV) and radiation degradation (system efficiency as a function of fluence) of scintillators exposed to a 4.5-MeValpha-particle beam. The luminosity of single-crystal formats of cesium iodide (CsI) were compared to phosphor powders of strontium aluminate doped with dysprosium and europium; zinc sulfide doped with aluminum, copper, and silver; yttrium aluminum phosphide (YAP:Ce); and yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Ce). Scintillator samples were mounted on both indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) and triple-junction PV solar cells. The two PVs were calibrated as a function of optical intensity and emission wavelength. The PV I-V characteristics were measured throughout the alpha-particle exposures to determine the power source efficiency and scintillator luminosity. CsI scintillators affixed to InGaP PV produced the highest alpha-induced luminosity (62.3 kPh/MeV) and required the largest ion fluence (1015 ion/cm2) to reduce the system efficiency to 10 of its beginning of life value.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 26, 2023
Accession Number
AD1217515

Entities

People

  • G. A. Trobare
  • Jason Barbier
  • Jeremy Smith
  • John D. Demaree
  • Leighann Larkin
  • Lucas Zhu
  • Marc S. Litz
  • Mathew Tivey
  • Michael Wraback
  • Nicholas Barbieri
  • Nusrat Sarwahrdy
  • Rais Nurhidajat
  • Thomas Bone
  • Vijay Parameshwaran

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alpha Particles
  • Chemistry
  • Compound Semiconductors
  • Crystal Structure
  • Crystals
  • Energy Transfer
  • Ionizing Radiation
  • Luminosity
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Optical Properties
  • Particle Beams
  • Quantum Yields
  • Scintillation Counters
  • Semiconductors
  • Silicon Carbide

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.
  • Solar Physics

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics