Evaluation of a betavoltaic energy converter supporting scalable modular structure

Bibliographic Details
Title: Evaluation of a betavoltaic energy converter supporting scalable modular structure
Authors: Taewook Kang, Jinjoo Kim, Seongmo Park, Kwangjae Son, Kyunghwan Park, Jaejin Lee, Sungweon Kang, Byoung‐Gun Choi
Source: ETRI Journal, Vol 41, Iss 2, Pp 254-261 (2018)
Publisher Information: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), 2018.
Publication Year: 2018
Collection: LCC:Telecommunication
LCC:Electronics
Subject Terms: beta ray, betavoltaic cell, betavoltaic device, betavoltaic energy conversion, energy harvesting, Telecommunication, TK5101-6720, Electronics, TK7800-8360
More Details: Distinct from conventional energy‐harvesting (EH) technologies, such as the use of photovoltaic, piezoelectric, and thermoelectric effects, betavoltaic energy conversion can consistently generate uniform electric power, independent of environmental variations, and provide a constant output of high DC voltage, even under conditions of ultra‐low‐power EH. It can also dramatically reduce the energy loss incurred in the processes of voltage boosting and regulation. This study realized betavoltaic cells comprised of p‐i‐n junctions based on silicon carbide, fabricated through a customized semiconductor recipe, and a Ni foil plated with a Ni‐63 radioisotope. The betavoltaic energy converter (BEC) includes an array of 16 parallel‐connected betavoltaic cells. Experimental results demonstrate that the series and parallel connections of two BECs result in an open‐circuit voltage Voc of 3.06 V with a short‐circuit current Isc of 48.5 nA, and a Voc of 1.50 V with an Isc of 92.6 nA, respectively. The capacitor charging efficiency in terms of the current generated from the two series‐connected BECs was measured to be approximately 90.7%.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1225-6463
2233-7326
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1225-6463; https://doaj.org/toc/2233-7326
DOI: 10.4218/etrij.2018-0022
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/05889f81520548c3a95ead7ef8983e73
Accession Number: edsdoj.05889f81520548c3a95ead7ef8983e73
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:12256463
22337326
DOI:10.4218/etrij.2018-0022
Published in:ETRI Journal
Language:English