ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Feb 2026
Jul 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
March 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
January 2026
Latest News
Growth beyond megawatts
Hash Hashemianpresident@ans.org
When talking about growth in the nuclear sector, there can be a somewhat myopic focus on increasing capacity from year to year. Certainly, we all feel a degree of excitement when new projects are announced, and such announcements are undoubtedly a reflection of growth in the field, but it’s important to keep in mind that growth in nuclear has many metrics and takes many forms.
Nuclear growth—beyond megawatts—also takes the form of increasing international engagement. That engagement looks like newcomer countries building their nuclear sectors for the first time. It also looks like countries with established nuclear sectors deepening their connections and collaborations. This is one of the reasons I have been focused throughout my presidency on bringing more international members and organizations into the fold of the American Nuclear Society.
D. Ghasemabadi, H. Zaki Dizaji, M. Abdollahzadeh
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 199 | Number 3 | March 2025 | Pages 476-489
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2024.2370675
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This research aims to investigate and analyze the optimal beta radioisotopes for use in betavoltaic batteries, focusing on enhancing a betavoltaic battery’s performance and efficiency. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of 1252 radioisotopes, among which are 955 beta emitters and 502 beta-minus decay modes. We identified 27 pure beta emitters and further narrowed these down to select the most suitable candidates for betavoltaic applications. We utilized the ICRP 107 report and DECDATA auxiliary software to evaluate some characteristics and features of beta emitters. Our evaluation led to the selection of two groups of radioisotopes—3H and 63Ni from pure beta emitters, and 147Pm, 151Sm, 171Tm, and 155Eu from impure beta emitters—based on their power, minimum volume factor, and cell and source dimensions. The selected radioisotopes demonstrate the potential to significantly improve betavoltaic battery design, offering a balance between energy output and realistic dimensions for practical applications. The findings provide a framework for selecting and utilizing suitable beta emitter radioisotopes, which is crucial for advancing betavoltaic battery technology. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of the characteristics required for optimal radioisotope selection, paving the way for more efficient and compact betavoltaic batteries.
