Betavoltaic Nuclear Battery: A Review of Recent Progress and Challenges as an Alternative Energy Source

Nuclear energy is considered a suitable and eco-friendly alternative for combating the rising greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from excessive fossil fuel consumption. Betavoltaic battery is a form of nuclear technology that utilizes the decay energy of β-emitting radioisotopes to produce electrical power. Owing to its long shelf life, high specific energy density, and ability to work under extreme conditions, it has been a subject of considerable research attention in the past few years. Despite significant research on betavoltaic battery, several impediments to realizing high energy conversion efficiency and maximum power density have yet to be overcome. This Review Article comprehensively discusses the challenges and recent research progress of betavoltaic battery development. First, promising strategies for improving betavoltaic battery performance, theoretical principles, and equations for quantifying betavoltaic battery efficiency are discussed. Then a thorough overview of several β-radiation absorbing materials, such as traditional semiconductors, metal oxides, and organic/inorganic materials, is explored. Finally, the outlook for betavoltaic battery is discussed before concluding the review.