• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.40-47
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• 2017

One of the main technical constraints of a conventional battery is the limited lifetime of electric energy supplied. With self-power generation using an internal radioisotope as an emitter of beta particles, and a PN-junction semiconductor as an absorber of the beta particles, a betavoltaic battery can provide electric energy to electric devices in a semi-permanent manner. Hence, a betavoltaic battery can be adopted as the solution to the power source issue of IoT devices placed in locations that people cannot easily access, such as in the deep sea, a desert, and space, and requiring a long operation time without an electrical charging. This paper covers the current trends in betavoltaic batteries including issues regarding their technology, application, and patents.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.1978-1982
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• 2019

The paper presents the electrical performance measurements of a prototype nuclear battery and two types of betavoltaic cells. The electrical performance was assessed by measuring current-voltage properties (I-V) and determining the short-circuit current and the open-circuit voltage. With ⁶³Ni as an irradiation source, the open-circuit voltage and the short-circuit current were determined as 1 V and 64 nA, respectively. The prototype consisted of 10 betavoltaic cells that were prepared using radioactive ⁶³Ni. Electroplating of the radioactive ⁶³Ni on an ohmic contact (Ti-Ni) was carried out at a current density of 20 mA/㎠. Two types of betavoltaic cells were studied: with an external ⁶³Ni source and a ⁶³Ni-covered source. Under irradiation of the ⁶³Ni source with an activity of 10 mCi, the open-circuit voltage V_oc of the fabricated cells reached 151 mV and 109 mV; the short-circuit current density J_sc was measured to be 72.9 nA/cm2 and 64.6 nA/㎠, respectively. The betavoltaic cells had the fill factor of 55% and 50%, respectively.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.773-777
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• 2016

A betavoltaic battery was prepared using radioactive $^{63}Ni$ attached to a three-dimensional single trenched P-N absorber. The optimum thickness of a $^{63}Ni$ layer was determined to be approximately $2{\mu}m$, considering the minimum self-shielding effect of beta particles. Electroplating of radioactive $^{63}Ni$ on a nickel (Ni) foil was carried out at a current density of $20mA/cm^2$. The difference of the short-circuit currents ($I_{sc}$) between the pre- and post-deposition of $^{63}Ni$ (16.65 MBq) on the P-N junction was 5.03 nA, as obtained from the I-V characteristics. An improved design with a sandwich structure was provided for enhancing performance.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2017

The small-scale electroplating device was designed and fabricated for Ni-63 sealed source (foil type) with a high specific activity needed for production of betavoltaic battery. The condition of Ni electroplating was optimized by using fabricated electroplating device to establish a Ni-63 electroplating condition on the Ni foil. The results showed that the optimum surface morphology and thickness of Ni deposit was obtained for 1,758 seconds at a current density of $15mA{\cdot}cm^{-2}$ with 0.5% tween 20. Radioisotope Ni-63 electroplating was implemented under established condition. The radioactivity of Ni-63 sealed source was calculated to $28mCi{\cdot}cm^{-2}$, and the thickness of Ni-63 deposit was about $2.4{\mu}m$.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.167-170
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• 2015

Radioisotope (Nuclear) battery using $^{63}Ni$ was prepared as beta cell. The electroplated $^{63}Ni$ on Ni foil is fabricated, and beta cell and photovoltaic hybrid battery was designed to use at both day and night in space project. A Ni-plating solution is prepared by dissolving metal particles including $^{62}Ni$ and $^{63}Ni$ from neutron irradiation of ($n,{\gamma}$). Electroplating solution of a chloride bath consists on nickel ions in HCl, $H_3BO_3$, and KOH. The deposition was carried out at current density of $10mA\;cm^{-2}$. The prepared beta source was attached on a PN junction and measured I-V properties. The power output at activity of 0.07 mCi and 0.45 mCi were 0.55 pW and 2.69 nW, respectively.