South Korean research team has developed South Korea’s first betavoltaic device that can be used for more than 50 years in extreme environment such as North Pole, South Pole, deep sea, and space. This device is a device that chances energy from radioactive isotope into electricity and it generates its own electricity without any help from outside power sources such as sunlight and wind. It generates electricity by combining a semiconductor with source of Ni-63 beta-ray and can last more than 50 years even without charging it separately or replacing a device.
Daegu Technopark (Director Kwon Up)announced on the 1st that it has developed South Korea’s first betavoltaic device with Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and started manufacturing prototypes.
While Daegu Technopark’s Nano Convergence Commercialization Center was in charge of developing low-electricity control system, KAERI and ETRI were in charge of demonstrating production of Ni-63 beta-ray and accurately combining it with a semiconductor and developing SiC-based (Silicon Carbide) high-efficient energy absorber.
These institutions are planning to develop additional technologies that will improve output of electricity.
Because density of energy per mass is high for betavoltaic device, it can generate huge amount of energy with small amount. If commercialized betavoltaic device is used in a field that inserts betavoltaic device into human body such as artificial heart, life of these devices can greatly increase from 5 years to more than 20 years.
“When we commercialize this device, it will be utilized in variety of fields such as ultra-small power supply, source of low electricity for special purpose, and power supply for safety detection sensor for disasters.” said Director Choi Jung-geon of Daegu Technopark’s Nano Convergence Commercialization Center. “In order to commercialize result of our research that is expected to cause ripple effect of more than $891 million (1 trillion KRW) in industries, we need interest and substantial support from our government.”
On the other hand, the U.S. has been developing betavoltaic devices since 10 years ago with support from its government. Rosatom, which is a state corporation in Russia, also recently announced that it is planning to produce Ni-63-based betavoltaic devices within two years.
Staff Reporter Jung, Jaehoon | jhoon@etnews.com