Alpha Schottky junction energy source

Marc S. Litz; Zhaoyang Fan; James J. Carroll; Stephen Bayne

doi:10.1117/12.918588

24 May 2012 Alpha Schottky junction energy source

Marc S. Litz, Zhaoyang Fan, James J. Carroll, Stephen Bayne

Proceedings Volume 8377, Energy Harvesting and Storage: Materials, Devices, and Applications III; 83770R (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.918588
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2012, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

Isotope batteries offer solutions for long-lived low-power sensor requirements. Alpha emitting isotopes have energy per decay 10³ times that of beta emitters. Alpha particles are absorbed within 20 μm of most materials reducing shielding mitigation. However, damage to materials from the alphas limits their practical use. A Schottky Barrier Diode (SBD) geometry is considered with an alpha emitting contact-layer on a diamond-like crystal semiconductor region. The radiation tolerance of diamond, the safety of alpha particles, combined with the internal field of the SBD is expected to generate current useful for low-power electronic devices over decades. Device design parameters and calculations of the expected current are described.

Citation Download Citation

Marc S. Litz, Zhaoyang Fan, James J. Carroll, and Stephen Bayne "Alpha Schottky junction energy source", Proc. SPIE 8377, Energy Harvesting and Storage: Materials, Devices, and Applications III, 83770R (24 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.918588

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