Polymers, Phosphors, and Voltaics for Radioisotope Microbatteries

As the first book written solely on the subject of nuclear batteries and their potential to revolutionize the electronics industry, this text will appeal to a broad audience, from engineers to energy policy makers. This collection of contributions from leading U.S. and Russian nuclear researchers contains diverse discussions of the problems of using radioactive material for microelectronic power needs, and it guides readers to future research in the area of long-life, high energy-density batteries. It describes the state of interdisciplinary research in radiochemistry, tritium storage, semiconductor fabrication, integration into MEMS and other electronic devices, and much more.

Representing the collective effort of over 30 leading scientists in Russia and the United States, this is the first book written solely on the subject of nuclear batteries. It presents a rich historical discussion and original research on the conversion of nuclear materials into electrical power, which can then be harvested to make long-lasting, more energy efficient batteries. With this technology, power-matched supplies would last decades - even centuries - using safe, direct, long-life, stable, integrated electric power from the highest energy density source available.

Polymers, Phosphors, and Voltaics for Radioisotope Microbatteries presents the state-of-the-art in interdisciplinary research in radiochemistry, tritium storage, semiconductor fabrication and characterization, nuclear battery fabrication and testing, integration into MEMS and other electronic devices, and much more. A key feature of this book is its discussion of construction materials for miniaturized radioisotope power supplies, since progress in nuclear battery technology depends on characterization of functionally radiation-stable components. Though substantial progress has been made to solve problems of using integrated radioisotope batteries for micro- and nanoelectronics, each author has provided an authoritative assessment and has indicated where development is needed.

Research in this area has the potential to revolutionize the microelectronics industry by enabling MEMS and nanotechnology. Significant technological progress depends today on coordinated interdisciplinary research. Polymers, Phosphors, and Voltaics for Radioisotope Microbatteries contains diverse discussions of the problems of using radioactive material for microelectronic power needs and guides readers to future research in the area of long-life, high energy-density batteries.