SBIR Phase I: Low-Cost Isotope Battery for Long-Lived Applications

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力包括创造放射性同位素材料，可用于深空、医疗应用、无人驾驶飞机和其他用途的高性能发电衰变电池。这些材料将能够一次提供数月或数年的电力，使无处不在、随时可用的核能成为现实，从而实现改变游戏规则的技术。这项技术不仅可以用于发电，而且所产生的特定同位素也可以支持对抗癌症、进行医学成像和探索自然资源的努力。根据联合市场研究公司（Allied Market Research）的数据，到2026年，核驱动电池市场预计将达到872亿美元。放射性同位素的独特能力可以在许多不同领域提供许多好处，但它们的稀缺性往往限制了它们的使用。SBIR第一阶段项目旨在从自然来源产生一种发电的放射性同位素材料，并表明它可以用于长寿命核电池的动力。该项目的技术障碍包括能够使用目前未考虑用于衰变电池的放射性同位素，以及以具有吸引力的成本产生有用数量的放射性同位素。为了克服这些障碍，将构建一个功能原型，并使用在NPPR制造的同位素驱动，以经验证明可行性。这将通过演示在原料中诱导放射性衰变的能力，收集产生的放射性同位素，并展示其在电源中的用途来实现。随着这个项目的发展，放射性同位素将更容易获得。医疗、航空航天、国防和许多其他市场将看到新材料的巨大发展机会。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project includes creating radioisotope materials which can be used for high performance power production decay batteries used in deep space, medical applications, unmanned drones, and other uses. These materials will be able to provide electrical power for months or years at a time enabling game changing technologies by enabling ubiquitous and readily available nuclear power to become a reality. Not only can this technology be used for power, but the specific isotopes produced can also support efforts to fight cancer, perform medical imaging, and explore natural resources. According to Allied Market Research, nuclear driven battery markets are expected to reach $87.2 billion by 2026.The unique capabilities of radioisotopes can provide many benefits in many different areas, but their rarity often limits their use. This SBIR Phase I project seeks to generate a power-producing radioisotope material from a naturally-occurring source and show that it can be used for power in a long-lived nuclear battery. The technical hurdles for this project include being able to use radioisotopes not currently considered for decay batteries and generating useful amounts of radioisotopes for an attractive cost. In order to overcome these hurdles, a functioning prototype will be constructed and driven with isotopes made at NPPR to empirically show feasibility. This will be accomplished by demonstrating the ability to induce radioactive decay in the feedstock, collecting the radioisotope produced, and showing its use in a power source. With the developments made in this project, radioisotopes will be more readily available. Medical, aerospace, defense, and many other markets will see great opportunities for advancement with the newly available materials.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.