Electrode with radioisotope and phosphor composite layer for hybrid radioisotope batteries and radioluminescent surfaces
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsJohn A Russo, Marc S. Litz, William B. Ray, II
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Abstract
An electrode for beta-photovoltaic cells includes: a substrate formed of a conductive layer with a thickness ranging between about 10 nm to 1 micron; a composite layer of radioluminescent phosphor with radioisotope particles homogeneously dispersed therein formed on conductive substrate with a thickness ranging between about 1 and 25 microns; and a semiconductor comprising a P-i-N/P-u-N junction or a N-i-P-P junction. The radioisotope may be a beta-emitter, such as Ni-63, H-3, Pm-147, or Sr-90/Y-90.
Claims19
An electrode for beta-photovoltaic cells comprising:
- a substrate formed of a conductive layer transparent to beta particles and photons;
- a composite layer of radioluminescent phosphor with beta-particle emitter radioisotope particles homogeneously dispersed therein formed on the conductive layer with a thickness to emit a combination of beta particles and photons;
- and
- a semiconductor comprising a P-i-N/P-u-N junction or a N-i-P-P junction which receives emitted beta particles and photons and generates electrical energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.