[ RadSafe ] Alpha and beta "batteries"

[A Karam]

There is also an effort underway to look at alpha-voltaic devices.  One
method is to use a sandwich of Am-241, ZnS(Ag), and photocell and to
generate electricity using the scintillation photons.  The other is
"direct drive", similar to the beta battery.

The chief advantage of alpha emitters is the higher energy per decay.
The biggest disadvantage is that alpha particles can cause a lot of
damage to the materials, leading to a fairly rapid fall-off in energy
efficiency with time.  There are also the obvious radiation safety
problems with each.

Andy

P. Andrew Karam, Ph.D., CHP
Research Assistant Professor
Rochester Institute of Technology
85 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY  14623
(585) 475-6432 (voice)
(585) 247-4510 (fax)
paksbi at rit.edu