{ "title": "BetaVoltaic Battery Patents", "inventor_name": null, "publication_year": null, "device_name": "Betavoltaic Battery (BVB)", "goal": "Convert energy from beta-decay of radioactive isotopes into usable electrical power.", "problem_addressed": "Provide long-life, low-maintenance power sources for space, remote, and miniature applications where conventional batteries are impractical.", "concept_summary": "A betavoltaic battery embeds a beta-emitting radioisotope (e.g., Ni-63, Sr-90, 14C) in close proximity to a semiconductor junction. Beta particles generate electron-hole pairs in the semiconductor, which are collected as electrical current. Various designs use quantum-dot layers, perovskite absorbers, carbon electrodes, or multilayer shielding to improve conversion efficiency and safety.", "detailed_description": "The patents describe several implementations: (1) an electrically inactive device that is neutron-irradiated to transmute a stable isotope into a radionuclide, activating the battery; (2) a cylindrical RTG-style betavoltaic cell with external shielding; (3) an anode comprising a conductive substrate, radiation-absorbing layer, and a beta-ray emitting quantum-dot layer; (4) perovskite-based betavoltaic-photovoltaic hybrid cells where one electrode is doped with a radioactive isotope; (5) multilayer semiconductor structures (intrinsic, N-type, P-type) with beta sources deposited by ion-beam or electroplating; (6) carbon electrodes formed from 14C quantum dots; (7) electrophoretic deposition of a composite of radioisotope and radioluminescent phosphor for hybrid radioisotope batteries; (8) modular sealed-source batteries with high-Z shielding, elastic damping, and series-parallel interconnection; (9) quantum-dot coated semiconductor nanotube arrays to boost short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage; (10) light-guide components that channel radioluminescent photons to a photovoltaic transducer. Manufacturing methods include ion-beam doping, electroplating of radioisotopes, electrophoretic deposition, and additive 3-D structuring of isotopes within trenches.", "principles": [ "Beta decay (radioactive emission)", "Photovoltaic effect (electron-hole pair generation)", "Radiation shielding", "Quantum-dot energy transfer", "Ion-beam doping" ], "scientific_domains": [ "Nuclear physics", "Semiconductor physics", "Materials science", "Electrical engineering" ], "mechanisms_of_action": [ "Beta particles strike semiconductor, creating electron-hole pairs", "Built-in electric field separates carriers, producing current", "Radioluminescent phosphor converts beta energy to photons for photovoltaic conversion", "Quantum dots enhance carrier collection and spectral conversion" ], "materials": [ "Silicon, GaAs, perovskite semiconductor layers", "Quantum-dot materials (e.g., CdSe, PbS)", "Carbon (14C) quantum dots", "Metal shielding (high-Z materials)", "Polymer films", "Ni-63, Sr-90, H-3, Pm-147, 14C isotopes", "Radioluminescent phosphor powders" ], "energy_sources": [ "Radioactive beta-emitting isotopes" ], "inputs": [ "Radioisotope material", "Thermal neutrons (for activation)", "Ion-beam irradiation", "Electroplating solution", "Electrophoretic deposition suspension" ], "outputs": [ "Direct current (voltage, current)", "Photons (radioluminescence) for secondary photovoltaic conversion" ], "claimed_performance": "Low-power, long-life output suitable for space RTG applications and miniature devices; specific power figures not disclosed in the article.", "experimental_evidence": null, "replication_status": null, "keywords": [ "betavoltaic", "radioisotope", "beta decay", "semiconductor", "quantum dot", "perovskite", "radiation shielding", "space power", "long-life battery" ], "related_technologies": [ "Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG)", "Photovoltaic cells", "Radioluminescent lighting", "Nuclear micro-batteries" ], "controversy_level": "low", "confidence_score": 0.78, "practicability_score": 0.62, "fringe_score": 0.28, "evidence_strength": 0.4, "risk_score": 0.55, "trl_estimate": 4, "source_urls": [ "http://rexresearch.com/", "https://worldwide.espacenet.com/advancedSearch?locale=en_EP", "https://www.patentsearch.com/US2025253067A1.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/US2024071643A1.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/US2024029910A1.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/US2023402201A1.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/US2023282384A1.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/US2023090218A1.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/KR102795430B1.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/KR102489893B1.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/KR102471615B1.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/KR102558788B1.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/KR102180974B1.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/US11875908B2.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/US11270807B2.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/CN108877980A.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/CN108877979A.pdf", "https://www.patentsearch.com/WO2019113842A1.pdf" ], "organizations": [ "Various patent assignees (unspecified)" ], "applications": [ "Spacecraft power systems", "Remote sensor nodes", "Medical implant power", "Miniature autonomous devices" ], "limitations": [ "Low power density compared to conventional batteries", "Regulatory and safety constraints due to radioactivity", "Need for shielding to protect users and electronics", "Limited commercial availability" ], "open_questions": [ "What is the achievable conversion efficiency under realistic conditions?", "How can shielding be minimized while maintaining safety?", "What are the long-term reliability and degradation mechanisms?", "Can scalable, low-cost manufacturing be realized?" ], "red_flags": [ "Handling and disposal of radioactive materials pose safety and regulatory risks", "No independent experimental data or peer-reviewed performance metrics provided", "Potential for overstated performance claims without quantitative evidence" ], "evidence_quotes": [ "An electrically inactive betavoltaic battery ... irradiating ... with thermal neutrons, thereby causing the conversion of at least a portion of the stable non-radioactive isotope to a radionuclide and creating the electrically active betavoltaic battery.", "The battery includes a first electrode, a first charge transport layer, a perovskite layer, a second charge transport layer, and a second electrode ... At least one of the ... electrodes is radioactive.", "A quantum dot betavoltaic battery ... comprising a semiconductor nanotube array film ... the inner wall of each semiconductor nanotube is coated with a quantum dot layer ... coated with a solid isotope radiation source layer.", "The invention provides a sealed radioactive source structure of a betavoltaic isotope battery ... the sealed radioactive source is uniform in activity distribution ... 4pi utilization (double-face source) is realized.", "An electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process forms a radioluminescent phosphor and radioisotope composite layer on a conductive surface of a substrate." ], "category": "Other" }