Production of 35S for a Liquid Semiconductor Betavoltaic

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 282(1):271-274

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0157-9· OSTI ID:973722

Meier, David E; Garnov, A Y; Robertson, J D; Kwon, J W; Wacharasindhu, T

The specific energy density from radioactive decay is five to six orders of magnitude greater than the specific energy density in conventional chemical battery and fuel cell technologies. We are currently investigating the use of liquid semiconductor based betavoltaics as a way to directly convert the energy of radioactive decay into electrical power and potentially avoid the radiation damage that occurs in solid state semiconductor devices due to non-ionizing energy loss. Sulfur-35 was selected as the isotope for the liquid semiconductor demonstrations because it can be produced in high specific activity and it is chemically compatible with known liquid semiconductor media.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 973722
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-65514; JRNCDM; TRN: US201006%%1084
• Journal Information: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 282(1):271-274, Vol. 282, Issue 1; ISSN 0236-5731
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DECAY
ENERGY DENSITY
FUEL CELLS
PRODUCTION
RADIATIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SULFUR 35
betavoltaic
RIMS
liquid semiconductor
sulfur-35