Flexible Nuclear Battery Module with Thin-Film Beta Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nuclear batteries face challenges due to the use of crystalline block radioactive materials, which hinder miniaturization and flexibility, leading to safety concerns from high radiation intensity and potential leakage, as well as a shortened service life due to excessive radiation exposure.
Innovation Solution
A flexible nuclear battery module is developed, comprising a radioactive unit with a soft substrate and β-ray source, and an energy conversion unit with a flexible carrier layer and semiconductor layers, allowing the module to be rolled up or bent for disposal within a shell, thereby enhancing flexibility and radiation area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If crystalline block radioactive material is used, then radiation intensity is high, but flexibility and miniaturization are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional crystalline block radioactive material with a thin film radioactive layer deposited on a flexible substrate. This thin film structure maintains the necessary radiation intensity while enabling the nuclear battery to be flexible, lightweight, and suitable for miniaturization applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical form parameter of the radioactive material from a bulky crystalline block to a thin film configuration. This parameter change allows the same radioactive isotope to provide sufficient radiation intensity while dramatically reducing volume and enabling flexibility for various structural designs.
2Power
If radiative material with higher radiation intensity is used, then energy conversion efficiency is enhanced, but safety concerns of radiation leakage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thin film radioactive layer is deposited on a flexible substrate that provides inherent containment. This structure allows for controlled radiation emission while the substrate acts as a barrier preventing radiation leakage, thus maintaining safety while achieving high energy conversion efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible substrate serves as an intermediary between the radioactive material and the external environment. It mediates the radiation emission process by containing the radioactive material while allowing controlled radiation transmission to the semiconductor stack, preventing direct contact and potential leakage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If crystalline block radioactive material is used, then radiation source is stable, but service life is shortened due to excessive radiation damage
Solution Approach 1:
The thin film radioactive layer provides a large surface area to volume ratio, which distributes the radiation emission more evenly. This reduces the localized radiation damage intensity on the semiconductor stack while maintaining stable radiation output, thereby extending the service life of the nuclear battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional crystalline block to a two-dimensional thin film configuration. This dimensional change increases the surface area for radiation emission, distributing the radiation load more effectively and reducing the damage concentration on any single point of the semiconductor stack, thus extending service life.
4Stability of the object's composition
If crystalline block radioactive material is used, then radiation source is compact, but device weight and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thin film radioactive layer dramatically reduces the material quantity required while maintaining radiation output. This thin film configuration on a lightweight flexible substrate significantly reduces both the weight and volume of the nuclear battery compared to conventional crystalline block designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the radioactive material from a thick three-dimensional block to an ultra-thin two-dimensional film. This parameter change reduces the mass and volume of the radioactive material while maintaining the necessary radiation emission characteristics, enabling lightweight and compact nuclear battery design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The flexible design enhances energy conversion efficiency and service life by increasing the radiation area, while reducing safety concerns related to radiation leakage due to lower radiation intensity requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one radioactive layer includes a β-ray source
Implementation Method 2
the semiconductor stack disposed within the shell and proximate to the radioactive unit so as to receive the radiation energy from the radioactive unit and to convert the radiation energy into the electricity
Data Source
AI summary
A nuclear battery module is adapted for a nuclear battery. The nuclear battery module includes a radioactive unit and at least one energy conversion unit. The radioactive unit includes a soft substrate and at least one radioactive layer disposed on the soft substrate. The at least one radioactive layer includes a β-ray source. The at least one energy conversion unit includes a flexible carrier layer, an N-type semiconductor layer disposed on the flexible carrier layer, and a P-type semiconductor layer disposed on the N-type semiconductor layer opposite to the flexible carrier layer. The at least one energy conversion unit is disposed on the radioactive unit in a manner such that the flexible carrier layer is proximate to the radioactive unit.