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Enhancing betavoltaic nuclear battery performance with 3D P+PNN+ multi-groove structure via carrier evolution

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Abstract

Betavoltaic nuclear batteries offer a promising alternative energy source that harnesses the power of beta particles emitted by radioisotopes. To satisfy the power demands of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), 3D structures have been proposed as a potential solution. Accordingly, this paper introduces a novel 3D 63Ni–SiC-based P+PNN+ structure with a multi-groove design, avoiding the need for PN junctions on the inner surface, and thus reducing leakage current and power losses. Monte Carlo simulations were performed considering the fully coupled physical model to extend the electron–hole pair generation rate to a 3D structure, enabling the efficient design and development of betavoltaic batteries with complex 3D structures. As a result, the proposed model produces the significantly higher maximum output power density of 19.74 µW/cm2 and corresponding short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage, and conversion efficiency of 8.57 µA/cm2, 2.45 V, and 4.58%, respectively, compared with conventional planar batteries. From analysis of the carrier transport and collection characteristics using the COMSOL Multiphysics code, we provide deep insights regarding power increase, and elucidate the discrepancies between the ideal and simulated performances of betavoltaic batteries. Our work offers a promising approach for the design and optimization of high-output betavoltaic nuclear batteries with a unique 3D design, and serves as a valuable reference for future device fabrication.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Science Data Bank at https://www.doi.org/10.57760/sciencedb.j00186.00275 and https://cstr.cn/31253.11.sciencedb.j00186.00275.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China

    Hou-Jun He, Yun-Cheng Han, Xiao-Yu Wang, Jia-Chen Zhang, Lei Ren & Ming-Jie Zheng

  2. University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    Hou-Jun He, Jia-Chen Zhang & Lei Ren

  3. School of Nuclear Science and Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China

    Hou-Jun He & Yu-Min Liu

  4. School of Nuclear Technology and Chemistry and Biology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China

    Xiao-Yu Wang

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  1. Hou-Jun He
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Hou-Jun He, Yun-Cheng Han, Xiao-Yu Wang, Yu-Min Liu, Jia-Chen Zhang, Lei Ren and Ming-Jie Zheng. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Hou-Jun He and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xiao-Yu Wang or Ming-Jie Zheng.

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Additional information

This work was supported by Anhui Provincial Key R&D Program (No. 202104g0102007), Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education Science and Technology Research Youth Project (GJJ200763), Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 2022CFB575), Hefei Municipal Natural Science Foundation (No. 2022011); Ministry of Education Industry-Education Cooperation Project (No. 202102647014), Science Island Graduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund Project (No. KY-2022-SC-04).

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He, HJ., Han, YC., Wang, XY. et al. Enhancing betavoltaic nuclear battery performance with 3D P+PNN+ multi-groove structure via carrier evolution. NUCL SCI TECH 34, 181 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41365-023-01331-y

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