Electron-hole pair creation and conversion efficiency in radioisotope microbatteries

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nuclear Engineering
• Semiconductor Physics

Background:

• Semiconductor radioisotope microbatteries' efficiency is limited by electron-hole pair creation energy (ω).
• The widely used Klein relationship for ω and bandgap (Eg) has been recently challenged.
• New experimental data led to the refined Bertuccio-Maiocchi-Barnett (BMB) relationship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the BMB relationship on radioisotope microbattery conversion efficiencies.
• To explore the potential for enhanced power output in microbattery designs.
• To assess the broader implications for fields relying on the Klein relationship.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the BMB relationship in the context of radioisotope microbatteries.
• Theoretical estimation of achievable conversion efficiencies.
• Comparison of potential performance with existing technologies.

Main Results:

• The BMB relationship predicts substantially higher ultimate conversion efficiencies for radioisotope microbatteries.
• Planar 63Ni-Diamond microbatteries could achieve 130x greater output power.
• Pore channel designs may offer even greater performance improvements.

Conclusions:

• The BMB relationship redefines the efficiency limits for radioisotope microbatteries.
• These findings enable new applications for microbatteries due to increased power.
• Reconsideration of the Klein relationship is necessary across multiple scientific fields.