Radiolytic Atomic Cell for Long-lived Sensors

Heavy power sources with short lifetimes have been significant obstacles to realizing the full potential of various miniaturized electrical and mechanical systems developed in the recent, remarkable growth of micro/nanotechnology. In contrast to conventional power sources, a radioisotope power source can operate for extended periods of time and in extreme environments. More importantly, the energy density (J/kg) of radioactive material is approximately one million times greater than that of lithium ion batteries. Infinity Power will develop a stable power source for various applications and systems. Long-term reliable electrical power will be collected using radioisotope materials. The capability to employ the radiolytic radical battery as a portable, stand-alone device in both normal and extreme environments depends on the development of proper design compatible with the miniaturization of the MEMS technology. The benefits of the proposed activity include: 1) increased lifetime of the power source; 2) utilization of environment-friendly materials; 3) increased energy density; and 4) improvement of the performance by utilizing the nanostructure materials. Thus, the power source developed in this project will meet various key requirements. Since our new radioisotope-based power source can last very long, many commercial applications will be available.