TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Small 3D nuclear battery with big potential

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its small 3D nuclear battery with big potential.

Background:

Harnessing nuclear radiation to generate electricity is not new.  In 1913, Henry Moseley demonstrated the attainment of high potentials using radium and developed the first atomic battery.  The advantage of these batteries are they have a long life and need minimal maintenance.  There is a need for nuclear batteries to have higher power density so they can last even longer and/or be further miniaturized.

At LLNL, engineering and material experts are researching, developing, and prototyping 3D nuclear batteries—tiny, high-density power sources useful for remote applications, such as space or in biomedical implants, where operating at low power for longer periods of time (up to decades) is essential. 

Nuclear batteries can be categorized by how the electricity is generated – thermal or non-thermal conversion.  Radiovoltaic conversion devices generates electricity from ionizing radiation (e.g., alpha, beta gamma particles) that is emitted during the decay of radioactive isotopes. 

Description:

Lab researchers have developed a radiovoltaic battery that contains a microstructured platform made of a semiconducting material that interacts with particles emitted from radioactive material.  The particles that the radioactive material emit as it decays have sufficient energy that can be converted to electricity by the semiconductor material – creating a rugged, maintenance-free battery.  The 3D-architected nature of the semiconductor platform (e.g., array of micro-pillars) increases exposure between the two materials, thus dramatically increasing power density.

Advantages/Benefits: 

• capable of delivering sustained power over long periods
• maintenance-free power
• compact and light
• withstand extreme environments (e.g., space) that other conventional batteries or solar power are impractical
• higher energy density and high efficiency as compared to conventional planar nuclear battery which can only output microWatt power since it is limited to just the 2D surface

Potential Applications: 

Commercial and government applications:

• Energy storage for devices in harsh environments such as deep space probes
• Biomedical implants like pacemakers

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development: TRL ☒ 0-2     ☐ 3-5     ☐ 5-9

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

U.S. Patent No. 10699820 THREE DIMENSIONAL RADIOISOTOPE BATTERY AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME published 6/30/2020

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Small 3D nuclear battery with big potential should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.
2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.
3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Small 3D nuclear battery with big potential.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention: IL-12745