Tritium Power Supply Sources Based on AlGaAs/GaAs Heterostructures

Abstract

The results of the development of a radioisotope power supply source based on a semiconductor (Al_xGa_{1 –x}As/GaAs) β-radiation energy converter and tritium as a radiation source are presented. The efficiency of this converter with a tritium saturated titanium disk, a green luminescent tritium lamp, or tritium gas as a radioisotope radiation source is compared. For a converter based on the Al_0.35Ga_0.65As/GaAs heterostructure in a capsule with tritium, efficiency η = 5.9% at a maximum specific output electrical power of 0.56 μW/cm². Due to their long service life, such stand-alone and compact power supply sources can be used in space and subsea technologies, implantable cardiac pacemakers, biosensors, and portable equipment of high reliability.