Carbon-14 Perovskite Betavoltaics Reach Record 10.79% Efficiency

Abstract

Betavoltaic cells, a key type of nuclear battery, promise sustainable and autonomous power generation for critical applications, including implantable medical devices, space exploration, and edge AI systems; yet, their practical deployment has remained limited due to low energy conversion efficiency (ECE). Here, we demonstrate a perovskite-based betavoltaic cell (PBC) incorporating formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI₃) and carbon-14 nanoparticles, achieving an unprecedented ECE of 10.79%. Our device features enhanced charge generation, with each incident β-particle initiating electron avalanche multiplication, yielding over 4.0 × 10⁵ carriers, resulting in a stable short-circuit current of 10.60 nA cm⁻² and an open-circuit voltage of 76.92 mV. By employing methylammonium chloride additives and isopropanol-assisted crystallization, we achieve defect-suppressed perovskite films exhibiting significantly improved stability, allowing continuous operation exceeding 15 h. This study bridges the performance gap between theoretical predictions and practical implementation, establishing a scalable platform for reliable nuclear-powered microelectronics and opening pathways to next-generation energy solutions.

Keywords

betavoltaics / carbon-14 / energy conversion / nuclear batteries / perovskites

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2025 The Author(s). Carbon Energy published by Wenzhou University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.