Power-Scalable Betavoltaic Battery

A betavoltaic battery comprises layers of fissile, neutron-emitting radioisotopes 8, moderating material 7, beta-decaying radioisotopes 6, and semiconductor diode 4 & 5 adjacently stacked one above another. Neutrons produced by the chain reaction in the fissile radioisotope 8 are slowed down by the moderating material 7 before penetrating into the layer of beta-decaying radioisotope 6 to cause fission. Beta particles produced from the fission of beta-decaying radioisotopes 6 create electron-hole pairs in the semiconductor diode 4 & 5. Electrons and holes accumulate at the cathode (9, figure 1) and anode (2, figure 1) respectively, producing an electromotive force. Because beta particles are produced from neutron-induced fission, instead of from beta decay, this betavoltaic battery is able to generate substantially more power than conventional betavoltaic batteries.