High-efficiency <sup>90</sup>Sr radio-photovoltaic cells based on waveguide light concentration structure

Tongxin Jiang; Sijie Li; Wenlong Yao; Lu Han; Lei Zhang; Xue Li; Lifeng Zhang; Xian Tang; Xin Li; Haisheng San

doi:10.1038/s41377-025-01875-1

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High-efficiency ⁹⁰Sr radio-photovoltaic cells based on waveguide light concentration structure

Original Articles

- High-efficiency ⁹⁰Sr radio-photovoltaic cells based on waveguide light concentration structure
- High-efficiency ⁹⁰Sr radio-photovoltaic cells based on waveguide light concentration structure
- LSA 2025年14卷第8期页码：2243-2251
- Affiliations：
  
  1.Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
  2.China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, China
- Author bio：
  
  Xue Li (lixue@ciae.ac.cn)
  Xin Li (lixin_0128@sina.com)
  Haisheng San (sanhs@xmu.edu.cn)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1038/s41377-025-01875-1
  中图分类号：
- 收稿日期：2024-12-10，
  
  修回日期：2025-04-14，
  
  录用日期：2025-04-24，
  
  网络出版日期：2025-06-16，
  
  纸质出版日期：2025-08-31
- Accepted：
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High-efficiency ⁹⁰Sr radio-photovoltaic cells based on waveguide light concentration structure[J]. LSA, 2025,14(8):2243-2251.

Jiang, T. X. et al. High-efficiency ⁹⁰Sr radio-photovoltaic cells based on waveguide light concentration structure. Light: Science & Applications, 14, 2243-2251 (2025).
High-efficiency ⁹⁰Sr radio-photovoltaic cells based on waveguide light concentration structure[J]. LSA, 2025,14(8):2243-2251. DOI： 10.1038/s41377-025-01875-1.

Jiang, T. X. et al. High-efficiency ⁹⁰Sr radio-photovoltaic cells based on waveguide light concentration structure. Light: Science & Applications, 14, 2243-2251 (2025). DOI： 10.1038/s41377-025-01875-1.

摘要

Abstract

Radio-photovoltaic cells (RPVCs) are able to offer high reliability and extended operational lifetimes

making them ideal for harsh-environment applications. However

the two-stage energy conversion process inherently limits energy conversion efficiency (ECE). This study presents a novel RPVC design based on a waveguide light concentration (WLC) scheme

employing multilayer-stacked GAGG:Ce s

cintillation waveguides alternately loaded with

Sr radioisotope sources. Electron beam irradiation tests revealed highly efficient radioluminescence (RL) emission from the edge surfaces of GAGG:Ce waveguide at electron energies exceeding 60 keV. A RPVC prototype incorporating 1.43 Ci of

Sr achieved a maximum output power (

max

) of 48.9 μW

with an unprecedented ECE of 2.96%—the highest reported value for radioisotope-powered RPVCs to date. Furthermore

a multi-module integrated RPVC prototype demonstrated a

max

of 3.17 mW

with a short circuit current of 2.23 mA and an open circuit voltage of 2.14 V. Remarkably

the device exhibited only 13.8% RL performance degradation after a 50-year equivalent electron beam irradiation (total fluence: 5.625 × 10

e/cm

)

confirming exceptional radiation hardness. These findings demonstrate that the WLC-based RPVCs achieve both high power output and exceptional long-term stability

representing a substantial advancement for facilitating nuclear battery applications.

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references

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High-efficiency 90Sr radio-photovoltaic cells based on waveguide light concentration structure

High-efficiency 90Sr radio-photovoltaic cells based on waveguide light concentration structure

DOI：10.1038/s41377-025-01875-1

摘要

Abstract

关键词

Keywords

references

High-efficiency ⁹⁰Sr radio-photovoltaic cells based on waveguide light concentration structure

High-efficiency ⁹⁰Sr radio-photovoltaic cells based on waveguide light concentration structure