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US 12,050,291 B2Granted
Indirect conversion nuclear battery using transparent scintillator material
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsJoshua Jarrell, Nerine Cherepy, John Winter Murphy, Rebecca J. Nikolic, Erik Lars Swanberg, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A product includes a transparent scintillator material, a beta emitter material having an end-point energy of greater than 225 kiloelectron volts (keV), and a photovoltaic portion configured to convert light emitted by the scintillator material to electricity. A thickness the scintillator material is sufficient to protect the photovoltaic portion from significant radiation damage.
Claims20
A product, comprising:
- a transparent scintillator material;
- a beta emitter material;
- and
- a photovoltaic portion configured to convert light emitted by the scintillator material to electricity,
- wherein the scintillator material is characterized as not exhibiting greater than 10% degradation of light output under continuous exposure to radiation energy at 1 megaelectron volt (MeV) to a dose of at least 1 gigarad for a duration of one year.
2 more elements
A product, comprising:
- a transparent scintillator material, wherein the scintillator material is present in two layers;
- a beta emitter material having an end-point energy of greater than 225 kiloelectron volts (keV);
- and
- a photovoltaic portion configured to convert light emitted by the scintillator material to electricity,
- wherein the layers of the scintillator material are positioned between the beta emitter material and the photovoltaic portion,
- wherein the beta emitter material and sections of a second scintillator material are present in alternating portions in the space between the layers of the scintillator material.
3 more elements
A product, comprising:
- a transparent scintillator material, wherein the scintillator material is present in two layers, wherein at least one of the layers of the scintillator material has a nonplanar surface;
- a beta emitter material;
- and
- a photovoltaic portion configured to convert light emitted by the scintillator material to electricity.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.