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Meeting Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
August 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
July 2025
Latest News
The U.S. Million Person Study of Low-Dose-Rate Health Effects
There is a critical knowledge gap regarding the health consequences of exposure to radiation received gradually over time. While there is a plethora of studies on the risks of adverse outcomes from both acute and high-dose exposures, including the landmark study of atomic bomb survivors, these are not characteristic of the chronic exposure to low-dose radiation encountered in occupational and public settings. In addition, smaller cohorts have limited numbers leading to reduced statistical power.
Ao Zhang, Li Chen, Chunlei Wang, Jingmin Li
Nuclear Technology | Volume 211 | Number 8 | August 2025 | Pages 1809-1822
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2430124
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Micro nuclear batteries are primarily designed to provide long-term, stable power supplies for microdevices operating in extreme environments. Currently, increasing the power output of nuclear batteries is essential for their broader application. This study investigates the output characteristics of the gallium nitride (GaN)-based PIN junction betavoltaic battery powered by 147Pm radioactive sources. Based on Monte Carlo (Geant4) and technology computer-aided design (TCAD), we calculate the J-V characteristics of the betavoltaic battery under various radioactive source and transducer structural parameters. Notably, we analyze the impact of traps in the GaN on the battery output.
The results indicate that when the 147Pm source thickness approaches 10 μm, the surface power output density nearly reaches its maximum. Under irradiation from a source of this thickness, and without considering transducer traps, the device achieves a maximum output power density Pmax of 35.68 ± 0.3 μW/cm2 and a device energy conversion efficiency ηd of 6.69% ± 0.06%, significantly surpassing the output of 63Ni-based cells. Considering transducer traps, Pmax decreases to 22.81 μW/cm2. The acceptor trap H1 (energy level: Ev + 0.86 to 0.88) formed during the growth process is found to be the primary factor reducing battery performance.
