A Micro Nuclear Battery Based on SiC Schottky Barrier Diode

Based on the betavoltaic and alphavoltaic effects, a 4H-SiC micronuclear battery was demonstrated. A Schottky barrier diode, in place of the previously used p-n junction diode, was utilized for carrier separation. A theoretical model was derived to predict the output electrical power. Using beta rad...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of microelectromechanical systems 2011-06, Vol.20 (3), p.685-690
Main Authors: Qiao, Da-Yong, Chen, Xue-Jiao, Ren, Yong, Yuan, Wei-Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Barriers
Batteries
Battery
Betavoltaic
Diodes
Electric batteries
Exact sciences and technology
General equipment and techniques
Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy
Mathematical models
Metals
micro nuclear batteries
Nickel
Nuclear power generation
Physics
Radioactive materials
Radioisotopes
Schottky barrier diode
Schottky barriers
Schottky diodes
Silicon carbide
Studies
Transducers
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Summary:Based on the betavoltaic and alphavoltaic effects, a 4H-SiC micronuclear battery was demonstrated. A Schottky barrier diode, in place of the previously used p-n junction diode, was utilized for carrier separation. A theoretical model was derived to predict the output electrical power. Using beta radioisotope 63 Ni and alpha radioisotope 241 Am as the radiation sources, the micro nuclear battery was tested and proved to be effective to transfer decay energy into electrical power. The experimental results show that the theoretical model can basically predict the performance of the micronuclear battery. Although the energy conversion efficiencies under illumination of 63 Ni and 241 Am are only 0.5% and 0.1% at current status, an improvement by an order of magnitude can be expected if the doping concentration of the epilayer can be decreased to the optimal value.
ISSN:1057-7157
1941-0158
DOI:10.1109/JMEMS.2011.2127448