Rosatom presented a compact nuclear battery. Nuclear power in miniature

At the enterprise of the state corporation "Rosatom" "Mining and chemical plant" (MCC, Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk region) the transformation (conversion) of the gas enriched in the target isotope nickel-63 (Ni-63) into a form suitable for application to a semiconductor converter to obtain prototype source of energy. This was reported to RIA Novosti by a representative of the press service of the enterprise.

At the moment, the delivery of the corresponding components for the application of Ni-63 and the final assembly of the prototype "nuclear battery" is expected.

The principle of operation of beta-voltaic power sources is the conversion of the energy of radioactive beta decay into electricity using a semiconductor converter. The properties of nickel-63 make it a very convenient base for miniature, safe and maintenance-free beta-voltaic power supplies with a long service life (at least 50 years) and high, up to 100 microwatts per cubic centimeter, power density. Such power supplies can be used in hard-to-reach areas and in extreme conditions. From a consumer safety point of view, the advantage of nickel-63 is that it is a so-called “soft” beta emitter, so the radiation is completely shielded by the battery case.

Batteries based on Nickel-63. Photo: YouTube

Nickel-63 does not exist in nature, therefore it is obtained by neutron irradiation of the natural nickel-62 isotope in a nuclear reactor with further radiochemical processing and separation in gas centrifuges.

"Mining and Chemical Combine" acts as a system integrator of the project. The MCC organized work in two directions: obtaining a highly enriched Ni-63 isotope and creating a special structure for a semiconductor converter. The project involves Rosatom enterprises with unique competencies. In particular, the Electrochemical Plant (Zelenogorsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory, part of the fuel company Rosatom TVEL) is responsible for the enrichment of nickel in the Ni-63 isotope. The final stage, the assembly of a prototype power source, will take place at the MCC.

As the representative of the MCC press service noted, the design of the semiconductor converter is based on a new design, which qualitatively improves the efficiency of all components. According to experts, power supplies based on highly enriched Ni-63 and with a new converter design create a breakthrough platform for designing next generation devices in the field of cybernetics and artificial intelligence. This is a new type of device that will become the basis for a new architecture of electronic devices.

The power supply can also be used in medicine

Rosatom presented at the IX Atomexpo-2017 forum one of the latest developments - a nuclear battery based on the nickel-63 radioactive isotope. The unique power supply can be used in medical and space applications, saving millions of dollars in equipment costs. At the same time, the exhibition model has a miniature size - only 1 cubic centimeter, and its service life is at least 50 years.

« In simple words, this is a nuclear battery, and in scientific terms, it is a source of beta radiation, which consists of a beta-voltar element and a diamond-based semiconductor converter. Nickel-63 does not exist in nature, it is obtained by irradiating the natural nickel-62 isotope with neutrons in a nuclear reactor with further radiochemical processing and separation in gas centrifuges, ”said the deputy head of the laboratory of the Scientific Research Institute NPO Luch in an interview with MK, enterprises scientific division of "Rosatom" Alexander Pavkin. He noted that the properties of nickel-63 make the battery a very convenient, compact, and most importantly safe battery with a power density of 1 microwatt and a voltage of 2 volts. The specialist explained the safety of such a power source by the fact that nickel-63 is considered a “soft” beta emitter, since in its case there is neither neutron nor gamma radiation, and beta radiation electrons are completely absorbed by the converter and are completely harmless to humans.

At the same time, the power of the battery can be increased or decreased based on the needs: the larger the dimensions, the greater the power. According to Pavkin, a power of 1 microwatt is enough to use a battery in a pacemaker or neurostimulator. The specialist also added that in addition to medicine, such power sources can be used in astronautics, as well as a battery in hard-to-reach areas and extreme conditions.

It is still difficult to calculate the cost of such a miracle battery: it all depends on the customer's requirements for its power. But in any case, the use of such an element will pay back its purchase price very quickly. “For comparison: it takes $1 million to send 1 kg of wires into space, if we replace them with a wireless power source, the benefit is obvious,” the representative of Rosatom emphasized.

The development was carried out jointly by the Research Institute "Luch", based in Podolsk, together with the Technological Institute of Superhard and New Carbon Materials (TISNUM, Troitsk). Currently, the battery is a prototype, but Rosatom is already preparing to launch the device into mass production. As Alexander Pavkin noted, many companies and potential investors who got acquainted with the sample at the exhibition showed interest in the development. Rosatom plans to enter the domestic and foreign markets with its invention. Representatives of the state corporation note that due to the innovative properties, the price of the new product will be very competitive and will allow it to gain popularity not only in Russia, but also in the West.

According to scientists and experts, the use of nickel-63-based power supplies will create the prerequisites for a technological breakthrough in many areas. In industry, such elements can be used in sensors for monitoring the condition of buildings, pipelines, they will be useful for ensuring the operation of electrical equipment, including for projects for the development of the Arctic, to ensure the operation of space technology and robotics. Mass production new sources will allow creating a new line of devices in microelectronics, in particular, autonomous microprocessor digital devices with built-in power supply. At the same time, Russia is an innovator in the production of highly enriched nickel-63: it is not used in any other country.

On the this moment science progresses and develops. To date, the nuclear battery has already been invented. Such an energy source can serve up to 50, and sometimes up to 100 years. It all depends on the size and what kind of radioactive substance is used.

The first statement about the production of an atomic battery was made by Rosatom. In 2017, this company presented a prototype at the exhibition.

The researchers were able to optimize the layers of a nuclear battery that uses the beta decay of the nickel 63 isotope to generate electricity.

1 gram of such a substance contains 3300 milliwatt hours.

How an atomic battery works

Energy production is based on a chemical reaction using different types of isotopes. During beta decay, an electrical potential is created. And it gives current.

Are nuclear batteries dangerous?

The developers claim that such batteries for ordinary citizens are completely safe. And all because the design of the body is made soundly.

It is known that beta radiation harms the body. But in the created nuclear battery, it is soft and will be absorbed inside the energy element.

At the moment, experts identify several industries in which it is planned to use the nuclear battery "Russia A123":

1. The medicine.
2. Space industry.
3. Industry.
4. Transport.

In addition to these areas, new durable energy sources can be used in others.

Advantages of a nuclear battery

There are a number of positive qualities:

• Durability. They can last up to 100,000 years.
• Ability to endure critical temperatures.
• The small size will allow them to be made portable and used in compact equipment.

Cons of a vigorous battery

• The complexity of production.
• There is a risk of exposure. Especially if the hull is damaged.
• High cost. One nuclear battery can cost from 500,000 to 4,500,000 rubles.
• Accessible to a narrow circle of people.
• Small assortment.

Research and development of nuclear batteries is carried out not only by large companies, but also by ordinary students. So in Tomsk, a student developed his own battery, on nuclear power, which can work without recharging for about 12 years. The work of the invention is based on the decay of tritium. Such a battery does not change its characteristics over time.

Nuclear battery for smartphone

For 2019, they release atomic energy sources for phones. They look like the picture below.

They resemble a certain microcircuit, which is inserted into special connectors in a mobile phone. Such a battery can last 20 years. And all this time it does not need to be charged. This is possible due to the process of nuclear fission. True, such a source of energy can scare many. After all, everyone knows that radiation is harmful and destroys the body. And few people like to carry such a phone next to them throughout the day.

But according to scientists, such a nuclear battery is completely safe. Since tritium is involved as an active substance. Its radiation, which appears during decay, is harmless. You can see the work of tritium on a quartz watch that glows in the dark. The battery withstands frost at minus 50 degrees. It also functions stably at plus 150 C 0 . At the same time, no hesitation was noted in her work.

It's nice to have such a battery at hand, at least in order to recharge the phone on a regular battery.

The voltage of such a battery ranges from 0.8 - 2.4 volts. It also generates from 50 to 300 nano amps. And all this has been going on for 20 years.

The capacity is calculated as follows: C = 0.000001W * 50 years * 365 days * 24 hours / 2V = 219mA

The battery is currently valued at $1,122. If translated into rubles at the current rate (65.42), then this will come out to 73,400 rubles.

Where are nuclear batteries used?

The scope is almost the same as that of conventional batteries. They are used in:

• Microelectronics.
• Pressure and temperature sensors.
• Implants.
• As power banks for lithium cells.
• identification systems.
• hours.
• SRAM memory.
• For powering low power processors, such as FPGA, ASIC.

These are not the only devices in the future, their list will expand significantly.

Nuclear battery on nickel 63 and its characteristics

This atomic energy source, made on 63 isotopes, can last up to 50 years. It works due to the beta voltaic effect. It is almost similar to the photo electric effect. In it, electron-hole pairs in the crystal lattice of a semiconductor are created under the action of fast electrons or beta particles. And with the photoelectric effect, they appear under the influence of photons.

An atomic battery on nickel 63 is produced by irradiating nickel 62 targets in a reactor. Researcher Gavrilov claims that this takes about 1 year. The necessary targets are already available in Zheleznogorsk.

If we compare the new Russian nuclear batteries on nickel 63 with lithium-ion batteries, they will be 30 times smaller.

Experts say that these energy sources are safe for humans, as they emit weak beta rays. In addition, they do not go outside, but remain inside the device.

Such a power supply is currently perfect for medical pacemakers. But the developers do not talk about the cost. But you can calculate it without them. 1 gram of Ni-63 currently costs about $4,000. From here we can conclude that a full-fledged battery will require a lot of money.

Nickel 63 is mined from diamonds. But to obtain this isotope, it was necessary to create new technology for cutting hard diamond material.

In general, a nuclear battery consists of an emitter and a collector separated by a special film. As a radioactive element decays, it releases beta radiation. The result is a positive charge. At this time, the collector is negatively charged. After that, a potential difference appears and an electric current is formed.

In fact, our atomic battery is a layered cake. Between 200 tons of diamond semiconductors there are 200 energy sources made of nickel 63. The height of the energy source is about 4 mm. Its weight is 250 milligrams. The small size is a big plus for the Russian atomic battery.

It's hard to find the right size. The large thickness of the isotope will not allow the electrons that have appeared in it to escape. A small thickness is not beneficial, since the number of beta decays per unit time decreases. The same is true for the thickness of the semiconductor. The battery functions best with an isotope thickness of about 2 microns. A diamond semiconductor is 10 microns.

But what scientists have managed to achieve at the moment is not the limit. The exhaust can be increased at least three times more. And this means that a nuclear battery can be made 3 times cheaper.

Nuclear battery on carbon 14 working 100 years

This atomic battery has the following advantages over other radiation sources of energy:

1. Cheapness.
2. Ecological purity.
3. Long service life up to 100 years.
4. Low toxicity.
5. Security.
6. Able to work in extreme temperature conditions.

The radioactive isotope carbon 14 has a half-life of 5700 years. It is absolutely non-toxic and has a low cost.

Active work on the modernization of the nuclear battery is carried out not only by the United States and Russia, but also by other countries! Researchers have learned how to build up a film on a carbide substrate. As a result, the substrate has fallen in price by as much as 100 times. Such a structure is resistant to radiation, and this makes this energy source safe and durable. Using silicon carbide in nuclear batteries, it is possible to achieve its operation at a temperature of 350 degrees Celsius.

Thus, scientists managed to create an atomic battery with their own hands!

They have been trying to develop beta-voltaic batteries - a new generation power source for half a century, but no one has yet reached industrial production. The filling for the battery, the nickel-63 isotope, does not occur in nature: it can only be produced artificially.
In some countries, such as the United States, they came up with technologies that make it possible to obtain nickel, but only low-enriched nickel - with a content of the 63rd isotope of about 20%. You can't make an efficient nuclear battery with it. Rosatom enterprises have achieved more than 80% enrichment.
The Russian nuclear battery is a joint project of the State Chemical Combine, a number of other industrial enterprises and the Academy of Sciences. “Within the framework of cooperation, there are several tasks, the main one is system integration, - the deputy head of the technical department GCC Dmitry Druz. “Now a number of development works are being carried out on the technology for obtaining nickel with a high enrichment in the 63rd isotope and a number of works are being carried out to create a prototype battery.”
The principle of operation of a nuclear battery is based on the beta-voltaic effect: the beta radiation of a radioactive isotope of nickel is converted with the help of a semiconductor into electrical energy. An analogue of the photoelectric effect, with the difference that the formation of electron-hole pairs in the crystal lattice of a semiconductor occurs under the influence of beta particles (fast electrons), and not photons.
“Basically, a battery based on the nickel-63 isotope consists of four parts: a semiconductor converter of beta radiation deposited on it with an ultrathin layer of highly enriched nickel-63 isotope, battery contactors and a miniature hermetic case,” says Dmitry Druz.

SOURCE SPECIFICATIONS

100 µW/cm

SPECIFIC POWER

16.6.2mm

DIMENSIONS

>50 years

LIFE TIME

20 %

The MCC intends to receive the first sample of a nuclear battery in late 2016 - early 2017. In terms of shape and dimensions, the sources are adapted for microwatt-class batteries, in particular for neuro- and pacemakers. In the future, the characteristics and features of the product will depend on the application and customer requirements. “These can be the usual form factors -“ tablets ”or miniature finger batteries, or microminiature form factors,” Dmitry Druz lists.

The technology is breakthrough - ahead of all Western analogues known today, not even by a step, but by several steps. To implement the project, it is necessary to solve fundamental and applied scientific tasks, as well as to apply the industrial technologies of Rosatom, which again bypassed the Western ones. And all this as a whole, as we expect, will allow us to create a unique product by the beginning of next year. Petr Gavrilov, CEO GCC

In the wake of interest in the novelty, publications about the developments of other organizations appeared in the press.
Thus, a team of scientists from MISiS, TISNUM, MIPT and NPO Luch created a prototype of a new energy converter for ionizing radiation of the nickel-63 isotope. But this is not a nuclear battery, but a nuclear generator. The head of the research team, head of the Department of Materials Science of Semiconductors and Dielectrics of MISiS, Professor Yuri Parkhomenko comments: “We faced a fundamentally different task - the development of a radiation-stimulated mechanoelectric alternating voltage generator operating due to the energy of ionizing radiation of the nickel-63 isotope.”
The heart of this battery is the cantilever, a thin plate of piezocrystalline lithium niobate with a bidomain structure. The energy released in the nickel-63 isotope during beta decay is converted into the energy of mechanical vibrations of the piezocrystalline cantilever, which, in turn, is converted into an alternating voltage on the electrodes.
Both beta-voltaic and microelectromechanical sources (analogous to the development of MISiS and partners) appeared more than 10 years ago, but all of them lack the efficiency and power that highly enriched nickel-63 can provide. As Dmitry Druz notes, already at the current stage of R&D, it is clear that the GCC battery will outperform all battery samples using the energy of nickel-63 beta decay. “Our source has multiple advantages both in terms of efficiency and power, as well as in terms of dimensions and unpretentiousness. It can be used in the most extreme conditions,” said Dmitry Druz.
A nuclear battery under the Rosatom brand will soon become a reality, and there is every reason to believe that this product will revolutionize not only the domestic, but also the world market.

Potential consumers
Medical pacemakers use plutonium-238 as an energy source and last about 10 years. Replacing pacemakers is a complicated operation, with a nuclear battery, deimplantation won't be needed for 50 years. In the nuclear industry, nuclear batteries can be installed in temperature and radiation monitoring sensors. Nuclear batteries will become an indispensable component of autonomous navigation equipment networks, telemetry systems and online monitoring of a wide range of parameters. With a bang long-playing sources will be accepted by the creators of various underwater systems, the conquerors of the North, the military industry.
Production
Nickel-63 is a clean source of energy: soft beta radiation is not accompanied by harmful gamma radiation. The half-life is 100 years. To produce an isotope, two stages of enrichment are required: first, in centrifuges for nickel-62, then, after enrichment and isolation, for nickel-63.
To every house?
Who among us does not want smartphones, computers or tablets to work for 50 years without recharging? From a safety point of view, there are no obstacles: the beta radiation of nickel-63 is absorbed by the battery case. However, there is a fear that there will be those who want to disassemble the battery. And then there might be Negative consequences. There is another barrier to consumer access to nuclear batteries and generators - the price. Due to the complex technology for obtaining 1 g of nickel-63, it costs hundreds of thousands of rubles. Even though the battery needs far less than a gram, it is expensive. However, when the product is tested in knowledge-intensive, high-tech industries, demand will grow, and then the industrial production nickel-63, and the cost will be much lower. Important question: how to dispose of compact nuclear power sources? “It is optimal to hand them over for processing to extract the undecayed isotope,” said Dmitry Druz, deputy head of the MCC technical department.