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

该小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将确定构建一种半导体器件的可行性，该器件将直接有效地将放射性衰变释放的能量直接转换为电流。半导体材料将以独特的方式使用，这将导致创新的电气技术。使用半导体材料来实现直接放射性同位素能量转换的现有努力集中在平面几何形状上，例如在太阳能电池和光伏电池中。这项研究的目标是将放射性同位素分布在整个半导体的指定活性体积中，以保持接近能量转换机制。实现高效率的关键是减少放射性核的最大数量，以便在转换为电流之前损失最小量的衰变能量。 在商业上，这项研究将导致开发一种实用的核电池。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。特别有吸引力的是，候选放射性同位素电源的半衰期以几十年为单位，因此可以在偏远或无法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许多消费者应用。

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.