Nuclear Voltaic Power-source

The diamond-based charge generator comprises radioisotopes embedded in diamond, Radioisotopes can decay and release an alpha particle, beta particle, or neutron which can be the power source.

The first diamond layer comprises a P+ -type diamond and the second layer comprises a P-type diamond. At least one diamond-based charge generator comprises an ohmic contact layer and a Schottky contact layer. The ohmic contact layer comprises Ti, Zr, Hf, TiC, ZrC, HfC, Zr—Ti—C, Hf—Ti—C, Zr—Hf—C, Ti—Hf—C, or Ti—Zr—Hf—C and the Schottky contact layer comprises Al, Ti, Ni, Au, Ag, Nb, Cu, Cr, and Pt.

Solution

• The solution relates to diamond-based charge generator to improve the power output of the nano diamond battery.
• The benefit of using diamond is that the wide bandgap (5.5 eV) can allow for a high voltage (typically up to 2 V), a long carrier lifetime (typically 2000 ns) which can allow it to have a near 100% charge collection efficiency, and an extremely high radiation hardness that allows the device to be used over a significantly long period to time.
• Diamond-based charge generator comprises a first diamond layer and a second diamond layer.
• Radioisotopes of shorter half-life but of higher radioactivity can be used to increase the power output.
• Diamond nuclear voltaic can power applications for as long as the radioisotopes last.

Application

• The  application of nuclear diamond battery such as smartphones (3.7 V), electric vehicle (4.2 V), Internet of Things (IoT, <1.5 V).
• Nuclear Diamond batteries can also be used in pacemakers and hearing aids.

Comment

• The method is suitable for enhancing the efficiency of nano diamond battery.
• Radioisotopes of shorter half-life but of higher radioactivity can be used to increase the power output.

Very high efficiency, miniaturized, long-lived alpha particle power source using diamond devices for extreme space environments

The present invention uses the kinetic energy of [alpha]-particles emitted during radioactive decay. Alpha particles are the nuclei of helium atoms that are emitted and travel without the usual accompanying electrons present in un-ionized helium atoms. In comparison to beta particles (electrons) and gamma rays (high energy electromagnetic radiation), [alpha]-particles are massive with kinetic energy that is readily-convertible to electrical energy under the proper circumstances.

With the use of radioactive isotopes, such a power source can be used in environments that are isolated from other power sources.

Solution

• The solution relates to small, high efficiency and long-lived power source.
• The power source includes pn structure in the form of n-doped diamond film and p-doped diamond film.
• The N- and P-doped diamond films are doped at low densities to maximize the depletion region for high efficiency operation.
• Ohmic contacts are used to collect current from the PN junction. Additionally, the entire power generator may be situated atop a diamond substrate.
• Curium 244 is used to provide [alpha]-particles. The kinetic energy of the [alpha]-particles generates free electron and hole pairs.
• [alpha]-particles are massive with kinetic energy that is readily-convertible to electrical energy under the proper circumstances.

Application

• The application of the battery device is spacecraft.
• The application of this could be the environments where human cannot reach, like deep sea and deep space missions.

Comment

• The method is suitable for enhancing the efficiency of the power source.
• The power source includes pn structure in the form of n-doped diamond film and p-doped diamond film.

A safe metal container device equipped with heat dissipation for CVD diamond semiconductor thin film nuclear power cells using radioactive waste.

The present invention relates to a safe metal container device in which radioactive waste is sealed in a metal container and is equipped with a tandem CVD diamond semiconductor thin film ionizing radiation conversion layer heat dissipation layer that converts ionizing radiation emitted from radioactive materials into electric power.

CVD diamond has a band gap of 5.48 eV and has properties as a semiconductor. As the CVD diamond semiconductor thin film, a nanocrystalline diamond thin film formed by high-power microwave plasma CVD, microwave plasma CVD, or surface wave plasma CVD is used.

CVD diamond is said to be a material that has the highest or near-highest values among substances in terms of thermal conductivity, elastic constant, light transmittance, heat resistance, chemical resistance, radiation resistance, insulation, and dielectric breakdown.

Solution

• The solution relates to a safe metal container that converts the ionizing radiation emitted from the radioactive materials into electric power.
• Safe metal container in which radioactive waste is sealed.
• Safe metal container is equipped with a tandem CVD diamond semiconductor thin film ionizing radiation conversion layer and heat dissipation layer.
• A tandem CVD diamond semiconductor thin film ionizing radiation conversion layer that converts X-rays into electricity is used for heat dissipation in a cooling layer using circulating water.

Application

• The method is suitable for utilization of electric power, heat dissipation or shielding of ionizing radiation..
• The heat dissipation of the diamond semiconductor thin film ionizing radiation conversion layer utilizes the power generated by the long-term conversion power generation for more than 100 years.
• The safety of the CVD diamond semiconductor thin film nuclear battery using radioactive waste, which shields ionizing radiation.

Comment

• The solution is suitable for utilization of electric power, heat dissipation or shielding of ionizing radiation.
• The tandem CVD diamond semiconductor thin film ionizing radiation conversion layer installed in a metal container containing radioactive waste converts the ionizing radiation emitted by the radioactive material into electricity.

Nuclear Battery 

In the nuclear battery of the present invention, the semiconductor substrate, the metal-doped diamond layer, the active layer, and the radioactive substance-containing layer are laminated in this order, and the electromotive force generated by radiating radiation to the radioactive substance-containing layer has a structure (diode structure) in which an electrode for extracting is electrically connected to these laminates.

A laminate having at least a semiconductor substrate, a metal-doped diamond layer, an active layer, and a radioactive substance-containing layer in this order and an electrode electrically connected to the laminate and the active layer is made of impurity-doped diamond, wherein said metal-doped diamond layer has a metal concentration of 1×10 18 cm −3 or more and 1×10 21 cm −3 or less.

Solution

• The solution relates to a diamond-based nuclear battery.
• A primary object of the solution is to provide a nuclear power battery using diamond, in which degradation of diode characteristics due to an increase in diode area is suppressed.
• By disposing a metal-doped diamond layer between the semiconductor substrate and the active layer, the deterioration of the diode characteristics due to the increase in the area of the diode can be suitably suppressed.
• In nuclear battery of the present invention, the semiconductor substrate, the metal-doped diamond layer, the active layer, and the radioactive substance-containing layer are laminated in this order, and the electromotive force generated by radiating radiation to the radioactive substance-containing layer has a structure (diode structure) in which an electrode for extracting is electrically connected to these laminates.

Application

• The solution is suitable for suppressing the degradation of diode characteristics due to an increase in diode area.
• By disposing a metal-doped diamond layer between the semiconductor substrate and the active layer, the deterioration of the diode characteristics due to the increase in the area of the diode can be suitably suppressed.

Comment

• The method is suitable for suppressing the degradation of diode characteristics due to an increase in diode area.
• A metal-doped diamond layer between the semiconductor substrate and the active layer, the deterioration of the diode characteristics due to the increase in the area of the diode can be suitably suppressed.

A kind of diamond PIM Schottky types β radiation volta effect nuclear battery

The invention provides a diamond PIM Schottky type beta radiation volts effect nuclear battery, which integrates pure beta radioactive source, diamond slowing body and diamond PIM Schottky diode processing into a kind of radioactive source by using a mature preparation process. The device of decay can be converted into electrical energy. This type of nuclear battery is an ideal micro power supply for MEMS due to its high energy conversion efficiency, high radiation resistance, stable output and long service life.

The pure beta radiation source (1) is a flaky cylindrical solid state radiation source. It was selected as a source of lanthanum (Ti3TX), a source of nickel-63 (63Ni), a source of cesium-147 (147Pm2O3) or a source of strontium-90 (90Sr). Further, considering that the beta radiation is derived from the absorption effect, the thickness of the germanium source (Ti3TX) is less than 2 μm; the thickness of the nickel-63 source (63Ni) is less than 3 μm; the thickness of the germanium-147 source (147Pm2O3) is less than 43 μm; the germanium-90 source ( 90Sr) has a thickness of less than 1 cm.

The detachable diamond moderator (2) is cylindrical with a radius equal to the radius of the pure beta source (1). Varying the thickness of the diamond moderator (2) The high energy beta particles emerging from the pure beta source are moderated to obtain lower energy beta particles that are lower than the energy threshold of the diamond PIM Schottky diode for radiation damage and meet the output requirements of the MEMS.