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
Lioliou G
(2019)
30 µ m thick GaAs X-ray p + -i-n + photodiode grown by MBE
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Butera S
(2018)
6 µ m thick AlInP 55 Fe x-ray photovoltaic and 63 Ni betavoltaic cells
in Semiconductor Science and Technology
Whitaker M
(2020)
Al 0.6 Ga 0.4 As x-ray avalanche photodiodes for spectroscopy
in Semiconductor Science and Technology
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)
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
Zhao S
(2019)
AlInP photodiode x-ray detectors
in Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
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
Lioliou G
(2022)
Electron-hole pair creation and conversion efficiency in radioisotope microbatteries.
in Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
Lioliou G
(2018)
Energy response characterization of InGaP 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 |