When compared to chemical batteries, nuclear batteries are characterized by higher volumetric energy density (therefore longer battery life) and stronger endurance in harsh conditions. This report will explore the present state of nuclear battery technology and recently discovered possible breakthroughs.
Nuclear batteries differ from traditional batteries in their function and applications. Traditional batteries use electrochemical reactions as their power supply. In contrast, nuclear batteries capitalize on the decay of radioactive alpha, beta, and gamma particles to provide a constant energy source. This makes them suitable for powering devices in extreme environments where access to a power grid or frequent battery replacements is difficult.
In terms of nuclear batteries, any fission or fusion processes considered for energy production appear to be poor candidates. Isotopes such as Cf-252 spontaneously fission but the large range of neutrons in matter would yield large nuclear battery systems with a very low power density.
This paper reviews recent efforts in the literature to miniaturize nuclear battery systems. The potential of a nuclear battery for longer shelf-life and higher energy density when compared with other modes of energy storage make them an attractive alternative to investigate.
This fundamental principle causes the two properties desired of a nuclear battery, long shelf-life and high power density, to be opposed because of the fundamental properties of nuclear decay. Another design consideration specific to miniature nuclear batteries not of the thermal type is that the scale lengths of the system are ‘well-matched’.
Even in solids with a high atomic density of hydrogen, like paraffin (Table 7), the range is on the order of a half meter (it takes about 6 half thicknesses to achieve 99% energy loss). In terms of nuclear batteries, any fission or fusion processes considered for energy production appear to be poor candidates.