Investig. ion of the Effect of Beta Source and Phosphors on Photovoltaic Cells

Abstract

In this study, conversion of kinetic energy from the decay of a radioactive isotope to electricity is investigated by using the direct and the indirect conversion methods. In this context, simple nuclear battery models arc designed. Analysis for the effect of low-activity radiation from Pm147 and Sr90 beta sources on photovoltaic Si solar cell is presented. Beta radioluminescence nuclear battery models consist of a beta source, a phosphor layer and a solar cell. Phosphor layers with different mass thicknesses are prepared from ZnS:CuCl and SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ phosphors. Both the influence of beta sources and the phosphor layers on battery performance is analyzed separately. Effect of beta sources, phosphors are observed on solar cell by measuring the short circuit current and open circuit voltage. The efficiency of the battery models is determined with the obtained results. Furthermore, short circuit current values are analyzed at various times during the irradiation.