Radioisotope Microbatteries
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sussex
Department Name: Sch of Engineering and Informatics
Abstract
The ability to supply small amounts of power over long periods of time is becoming increasingly important in many applications including: microelectromechanical system technologies; implantable medical devices such as neurostimulators e.g. to alleviate the effects of Parkinson's disease or chronic pain; embedded electronics and sensors; as well as various defence and security applications. The core aim of this proposal is to produce a commercially viable robust, miniature and high-efficiency radioisotope microbattery for microelectronics to be deployed in inaccessible or hostile environments.
Publications
Zhao S
(2020)
AlInP X-ray photodiodes without incomplete charge collection noise
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Zhao S
(2018)
Electron spectroscopy with a commercial 4H-SiC photodiode
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Zhao S
(2019)
AlInP photodiode x-ray detectors
in Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
Whitaker M
(2020)
Al 0.6 Ga 0.4 As x-ray avalanche photodiodes for spectroscopy
in Semiconductor Science and Technology
Whitaker M
(2020)
GaAs/Al0.8Ga0.2As separate absorption and multiplication region x-ray spectroscopic avalanche photodiodes
in Journal of Applied Physics
Whitaker M
(2017)
Temperature dependence of Al0.2Ga0.8As X-ray photodiodes for X-ray spectroscopy
in Journal of Applied Physics
Whitaker M
(2018)
Al0.2Ga0.8As 2 × 2 square pixel X-ray photodiode array
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Whitaker M
(2020)
InGaAs x-ray photodiode for spectroscopy
in Materials Research Express
Whitaker M
(2020)
AlGaAs two by two pixel detector for electron spectroscopy in space environments
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Lioliou G
(2017)
High temperature GaAs X-ray detectors
in Journal of Applied Physics
| Description | Radioisotope microbatteries are technologically viable and on the cusp of being commercially viable for many applications. |
| Exploitation Route | Further research; commercialisation |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Electronics,Energy,Security and Diplomacy |
| Description | Radioisotope microbatteries are ready to be developed as commercial propositions for defence, medical, and other applications. The work helped shape strategic direction at a major UK company. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
| Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Electronics,Energy,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Security and Diplomacy |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Title | NUCLEAR MICROBATTERY |
| Description | A nuclear microbattery is disclosed comprising: a radioactive material that emits photons or particles; and at least one diode comprising a semiconductor material arranged to receive and absorb photons or particles and generate electrical charge-carriers in response thereto, wherein said semiconductor material is a crystalline lattice structure comprising Aluminium, Indium and Phosphorus. |
| IP Reference | CA3070559 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Patent applied for in: US, UK, EU, China, India, Russia, and Brazil |
| Title | NUCLEAR MICROBATTERY |
| Description | A nuclear microbattery is disclosed comprising: a radioactive material that emits photons or particles; and at least one diode comprising a semiconductor material arranged to receive and absorb photons or particles and generate electrical charge-carriers in response thereto, wherein said semiconductor material is a crystalline lattice structure comprising Aluminium, Indium and Phosphorus. |
| IP Reference | WO2019016574 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Patents applied for in: UK, USA, Canada, China, India, Russia |