Nebula Public Library

The knowledge bank of ESA’s R&D programmes

Radio-voltaic Identification Beacon (RIB)

Programme
Discovery
Programme Reference
ETD 2020-03-e
Contractor
University of Bristol
Start Date
End Date
Status
Closed
Country
United Kingdom
Radio-voltaic Identification Beacon (RIB)
Description

A Radio Voltaic Power Supply (RVPSTM) aims to provide electronics self-heating as well as continuous micropower for decades, supporting long duration missions and sensor applications.

Under this activity, a novel Diamond-based RVPS has been modelled, technology matured, and fabricated, incorporating the beta-emitting radioisotope carbon-14 within the device semiconductor lattice.

The fabrication method was custom-designed and developed in collaboration with UKAEA, and greatly improves the micro-battery efficiency while reducing fabrication costs over existing beta voltaic batteries. The fabricated RVPS’s developed under this activity give internal activity levels of ca 3MBq/4nW, and further testing is ongoing to establish battery operation and performance.

Keywords
Power