BETAVOLTAICS

BETAVOLTAICS - INTRODUCTION

Nuclear material is constantly decaying and in the

process emits radioactive particles. This is why
extremely radioactive material is so dangerous and why
properly storing nuclear waste is so important and so
expensive. But this waste can actually be put to good
use. Betavoltaic devices use the waste particles
produced by low-level radioactive materials to capture
electrons and generate electricity.
BETAVOLTAIC CELL – WORKING PRINCIPLE:

A Betavoltaic device (Betavoltaic cell or Betavoltaic

battery) is a type of nuclear battery which generates
electric current from beta particles (electrons) emitted from
a radioactive source, using semiconductor junctions. A
common source used is the hydrogen isotope tritium.

Unlike most nuclear power sources which use nuclear

radiation to generate heat which then is used to generate
electricity, betavoltaic devices use a non-thermal
conversion process, converting the electron-hole pairs
produced by the ionization trail of beta particles traversing
a semiconductor.
CARBON - 14 BETAVOLTAIC BATTERY

• Diamond battery is the name of a nuclear battery concept proposed by the University
of Bristol.
• This battery is proposed to run on the radioactivity of waste graphite blocks (used as
neutron moderator material in graphite-moderated reactors) and would generate small
amounts of electricity for thousands of years.
• The battery is a betavoltaic cell using carbon-14 (14C) in the form of diamond-like
carbon (DLC) as the beta radiation source, and additional normal-carbon DLC to
make the necessary semiconductor junction and encapsulate the carbon-14.
 SOURCE OF CARBON - 14

• In graphite-moderated reactors, fissile uranium rods are placed inside graphite blocks. These blocks
act as a neutron moderator whose purpose is to slow down fast-moving neutrons so that nuclear
chain reactions can occur with thermal neutrons. During their use, some of the non-radioactive
carbon-12 and carbon-13 isotopes in graphite get converted into radioactive Carbon - 14 by
capturing neutrons. Once the graphite blocks are removed during station decommissioning their
induced radioactivity qualifies them as low-level waste requiring safe disposal.
• Carbon 14 gas could be collected and used to produce man-made diamonds by a process known as
chemical vapor deposition using low pressure and elevated temperature. The resulting diamond
made of radioactive Carbon 14 produce beta radiation
 CARBON - 14 BETACELL WORKING PRINCIPLE:

• Carbon 14 undergoes beta decay, in which it emits a

low-energy beta particle to become Nitrogen-14,
which is stable (not radioactive)

14
6C → 147N + 0−1β
• These beta particles, having an average energy of 50
keV, undergo inelastic collisions with other carbon
atoms, thus creating electron-hole pairs which then
contribute to an electric current.
BETAVOLTAIC CELL – ADVANTAGES:

• Betavoltaic cells are long lasting. For example, one betavoltaic battery could
provide one watt of power continuously for 30 years.

• Although betavoltaics use a radioactive material as a power source, the beta

particles used are low energy and easily stopped by a few millimeters of
shielding. With proper device construction (that is, proper shielding and
containment), a betavoltaic device would not emit dangerous radiation.

• Betavoltaic nuclear batteries can be purchased commercially. Available devices

include a 100 μW tritium-powered device weighing 20 grams.
 BETAVOLTAIC CELL – DISADVANTAGES:

• As radioactive material emits, it slowly decreases in activity. Thus, over time a

betavoltaic device will provide less power.

• Leakage of the enclosed material would engender health risks, just as leakage of the
materials in other types of batteries (such as lithium, cadmium and lead) leads to
significant health and environmental concerns.

• Liability connected with environmental laws and human exposure to tritium and its beta
decay must also be taken into consideration in risk assessment and product
development. Naturally this increases the cost associated with tritium.
 BETAVOLTAIC CELL – APPLICATIONS:

• Betavoltaic power sources are particularly well-suited to

low-power electrical applications where long life of the
energy source is needed, such as implantable medical
devices or military and space applications.

• Recent progress has prompted some to suggest using

betavoltaics to trickle-charge conventional batteries in
consumer devices, such as cell phones and laptop
computers.
THANK YOU