Isotope Beta-Battery Approaches for Long-Lived Sensors: Technology Review
Abstract
Isotope batteries offer solutions for long-lived (100 yr), low-power (100 W) energy sources. The energy density of nuclear batteries uniquely serves applications for sensors or communications nodes that are required to last the lifetime of infrastructure. Efficiencies less than 10% are typical in direct-energy-conversion (DEC) of radiation to electric current, which is comparable to thermo-electrics (TE) and thermo-photo-voltaics (TPV). For low-power applications, avoiding a heat-cycle (Carnot limitation) is useful in reducing a heat signature. A beta-source is coupled directly to a semiconductor (or includes a phosphor/optical conversion in addition, before a semiconductor) conversion to free-electrons, creating current in an electrical load. A review of b-voltaics is presented. Novel approaches are identified for next-generation compact electronics and sensor applications. An inexpensive, commercially-available-off the-shelve (COTS) design is proposed to provide an immediate example.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA609484
Entities
People
- Marc S. Litz
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory