Radio-voltaic Identification Beacon (RIB)

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.