SBIR Phase I: A Semiconductor Device for Direct and Efficient Conversion of Radioisotope Energy

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将建立一个半导体装置的可行性，该装置可以直接有效地将放射性衰变释放的能量直接转化为电流。半导体材料将以一种独特的方式被利用，这将导致一种创新的电子技术。先前使用半导体材料实现放射性同位素能量直接转换的努力主要集中在平面几何形状上，例如太阳能和光伏电池。本研究的目的是将放射性同位素分布在半导体的整个指定活性体积中，以使其保持接近能量转换机制的方式。实现高效率的关键是找到最大数量的放射性原子核，以便在转化为电流之前损失最小的衰变能量。在商业上，这项研究将导致实用核电池的发展。预计这种直接能量转换装置将能够在许多应用中取代化学电池。特别吸引人的是，候选放射性同位素电源的半衰期可测量为几十年，因此可以在偏远或难以到达的地方连续输送电流。潜在地，工业市场的接受和成功将导致大量的消费者应用。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will establish the feasibility of constructing a semiconductor device that directly and efficiently converts the energy released from radioactive decay directly into electric current. The semiconductor material will be utilized in a unique manner that will result in an innovative electrical technology. Prior efforts using semiconductor materials to accomplish direct radioisotope energy conversion have concentrated on planar geometries as in, for example, solar and photovoltaic cells. The goal of this research is to distribute the radioisotope throughout the specified active volume of a semiconductor in such a manner as to remain nearly proximate to the energy conversion mechanism. The key to achieving high efficiency is to situate the maximum number of radioactive nuclei so that a minimal amount of decay energy is lost before conversion to electric current occurs. Commercially, this research will lead to the development of a practical nuclear battery. It is anticipated that this direct energy conversion device would be able to replace chemical batteries in a number of applications. Especially attractive is that candidate radioisotope power sources have half-lives measured in decades so that electric current can be delivered continuously in remote or inaccessible locations. Potentially, acceptance and success in the industrial marketplace will lead to a number of consumer applications.