Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity and as a renewable energy source, they reduce carbon emissions as well as a home’s electricity bill. However, solar panels are dependent on sunlight, and the manufacturing process can be energy intensive. An electrical engineering professor at the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing is now using radioactive material to design a revolutionary nuclear battery that could potentially last for hundreds of years.
Radiovoltaic devices work similarly but convert small amounts of radioactive material into electricity. Unlike solar panels, these devices work 24 hours, do not need heat or fuel to operate, and are ideal for harsh environments and remote locations. Radiovoltaics is also now considered the most sustainable form of power conversion.
Since 2024, Electrical Engineering Professor Krishna Mandal has been leading a three-year, $450,000 National Science Foundation-funded award to develop an innovative radiovoltaic battery to enhance long-term survivability. His current work and successes were published in the high-impact journal, IEEE Electron Device Letters, this past February.
Photovoltaics is the current technology commonly used to convert sunlight into electricity using solar cells. But electric conversion via photovoltaics does not work at night or in cloudy conditions and require frequent recharging and regular replacement.
“Photovoltaics is degrading and sensitive in harsh and radiation environments,” Mandal says. “The efficiency drops, which is critical for this type of device in military applications. If we can make a tiny device and integrate it, the power output stability can be increased with no issues.”
Mandal’s nuclear voltaic device aims to generate a steady flow of electrical power continuously for 432 years using small amounts of radioactive material. This would allow the device to power equipment such as remote sensors and medical implants.
To generate electrical power, Mandal proposed utilizing 4H-SiC, a type of silicon carbide, as part of the semiconductor battery design. 4H-SiC is an advanced material currently used in computer chips and has demonstrated excellent carrier transport properties, including low leakage, when used as a radiation detector. It is also environmental-friendly by producing minimal carbon emissions, while also reusing certain types of nuclear waste.
“Since 4H-SiC growth and fabrication techniques are matured, our device will substantially reduce production costs compared to those incurred for currently available radiovoltaic devices.”
Mandal also expects his current research will have extended impact across various areas, including technological, environmental, and economic.
“The results obtained from this project will contribute to scientific advancement in multiple fields including materials science, power devices and radiation detectors,” Mandal says. “Given their diverse applications, this work presents new opportunities for university-industry collaborations and the creation of start-up companies.”