High power output from nuclear photovoltaic batteries

Ibrahim Oksuz; Sabin Neupane; Yanfa Yan; Lei Raymond Cao

doi:10.1117/12.3029398

4 October 2024 High power output from nuclear photovoltaic batteries

Ibrahim Oksuz, Sabin Neupane, Yanfa Yan, Lei Raymond Cao

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume PC13151, Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XXVI; PC131510A (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3029398
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2024, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Nuclear voltaic batteries are not a new concept, yet their advancement is hindered by low power conversion efficiency and low power output. An alternative method to integrating a radioisotope with a semiconductor energy transducer for power generation involves capturing gamma rays with a bulk scintillator, which then converts the resulting visible light directly to electricity through commercially available solar cells. This approach is referred to as a nuclear photovoltaic battery which targets external radiation fields such as waste storage or areas close to high-intensity gamma-ray emitters. We explored this concept using a 2cm x 2cm x 1cm Gadolinium Aluminum Gallium Garnet (GAGG:Ce (HL)) scintillator, a polycrystalline CdTe solar cell with an Au contact size of 1.3cm x 1.3cm, and a high gamma field emitted by a Cs-137 (~1.5 kRad/hr) irradiator. The preliminary measurements yielded a maximum power output of ~ 280nW, with open circuit voltage (Voc) and short circuit current (Isc) of 0.34V and 1.98μA, respectively, resulting in a Fill Factor of 41.5%.

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Ibrahim Oksuz, Sabin Neupane, Yanfa Yan, and Lei Raymond Cao "High power output from nuclear photovoltaic batteries", Proc. SPIE PC13151, Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XXVI, PC131510A (4 October 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3029398

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KEYWORDS

Batteries

Photovoltaics

Gamma radiation

Scintillators

Solar cells

Gold

Nuclear radiation

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