Модификация наноструктурированного диоксида титана методом гидротермальной обработки для улучшения электрических параметров бета-вольтаических элементов

Abstract

New technologies of microelectronics are emerging to reduce the size of devices and combine them into more compact ultra-low power systems. Betavoltaic power sources (BVPSs) can serve as power generators of such order. BVPSs consist of a combination of betavoltaic cells (BVCs) based on long-lived radioisotopes of beta radiation and semiconductor converters (SCs). One of the key tasks for increasing the power of BVC is the selection of SCs that can efficiently convert the energy of beta particles into electricity. Currently, semiconductor structures with a developed surface and a high band gap are considered to be perspective SCs. In present work, arrays of titanium dioxide nanopores (TiO2 NPs) synthesized by common electrochemical anodization was chosen as a SCs. These SCs were part of BVCs based on nickel-63 with an activity of ~ 10 Ci/g. TiO2 NPs with an amorphous structure in the composition of BVC demonstrated low electrical parameters. To increase them, we modified TiO2 NPs by the hydrothermal method in a solution of Sr(OH)2 with a concentration of 0.05 mol/l at various times. These experiments were carried out in order to convert TiO2 (anatase) into structure-like SrTiO3. We found that the electrical parameters of the SCs increased with the duration of the modification time. The best result was obtained in case of 3 h modification — the BVC generated a short circuit current 2,9 nA, open circuit voltage 0,8 V and had a maximum power 0,8 nW at 0,45 – 0,5 V. The obtained electrical parameters in combination with the miniature dimensions of the BVCs open up the potential possibility of creating a BVPS with an increased power density.