Radioluminescent nuclear batteries with different phosphor layers

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Beam interactions with materials and atoms, 2014-11, Vol.338, p.112-118
• Main Authors: Hong, Liang, Tang, Xiao-Bin, Xu, Zhi-Heng, Liu, Yun-Peng, Chen, Da
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beta radioluminescence nuclear battery; GaAs photovoltaic cell; Monte Carlo method; Phosphor layer; Shockley diode equation
• ISSN: 0168-583X; 1872-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2014.08.005

•We present and test the electrical properties of the nuclear battery.•The best thickness range for ZnS:Cu phosphor layer is 12–14mgcm−2 for 147Pm radioisotope.•The best thickness range for Y2O2S:Eu phosphor layer is 17–21mgcm−2147Pm radioisotope.•The battery with ZnS:Cu phosphor layer can provide higher energy conversion efficiency.•The mechanism affecting the nuclear battery output performance is revealed. A radioluminescent nuclear battery based on the beta radioluminescence of phosphors is presented, and which consists of 147Pm radioisotope, phosphor layers, and GaAs photovoltaic cell. ZnS:Cu and Y2O2S:Eu phosphor layers for various thickness were fabricated. To investigate the effect of phosphor layer parameters on the battery, the electrical properties were measured. Results indicate that the optimal thickness ranges for the ZnS:Cu and Y2O2S:Eu phosphor layers are 12mgcm−2 to 14mgcm−2 and 17mgcm−2 to 21mgcm−2, respectively. ZnS:Cu phosphor layer exhibits higher fluorescence efficiency compared with the Y2O2S:Eu phosphor layer. Its spectrum properly matches the spectral response of GaAs photovoltaic cell. As a result, the battery with ZnS:Cu phosphor layer indicates higher energy conversion efficiency than that with Y2O2S:Eu phosphor layer. Additionally, the mechanism of the phosphor layer parameters that influence the output performance of the battery is discussed through the Monte Carlo method and transmissivity test.