Direct conversion of β-decay energy into electrical energy

Abstract

A comparison of the efficiencies of the power supplies produced based on the β-radiation sources has been carried out. The factors decreasing the efficiency of the device have been revealed. The results of the experimental studies and calculations of the efficiency of the direct energy conversion of Ni-63 β-radiation into electrical energy using silicon p–i–n diodes are presented. An expression for the open-circuit voltage of the convertor taking into account the distribution of high-energy electrons in the space charge region (SCR) of the p–i–n diode has been obtained. The ways of optimizing the convertor’s parameters due to improvements in the diode production technology and optimization of the thicknesses of the active emitter layer and i-region of the semiconductor convertor have been indicated.