Tritium microspheres + photovoltaics = ...

[fyrstormer]

...nuclear batteries, of course.

http://pesn.com/2008/10/22/9501495_Litroenergy_Power_Cells/

The article is a couple years old, but the concept sounds plausible as long as photovoltaics could be developed that respond well to the light produced by the tritium microspheres. (of course, since tritium undergoes beta decay, it might just make more sense to trap the tritium in a metal capsule and use it as a self-charging cathode, I'm not sure.) Any further developments on this that anyone's heard about?

 

[Ken_McE]

Yep, the LitroEnergy people have another possible use for Tritium microspheres. Wish they could be arsed to actually make some. Previous thread

 

[theChipmunk]

It's just a pity that the tritium/phosphor combinations used for illumination really aren't all that bright, so even a good photovoltaic cell isn't going to generate that much current/voltage off of one, surely.

Not sure about simply trapping the tritium and using the beta particles (electrons) striking the metal to induce current. It is possible to use beta particles to strike a semiconductor, creating an electron-hole pair near a PN junction and if the resulting electron released makes it across the diode, then it can't return and creates a PD and you have the capability of power generation.

Well, at least that's how I understand it, but then I have no qualifications (yet!) in any of it, so, y'know, pinch of salt.