Direct energy conversion has been investigated using Ni/SiC Schottky junctions with the irradiation of monochromatized synchrotron x rays mimicking the gamma rays of 237Np (30 keV) and 241Am (60 keV). Through current–voltage measurements, electrical energies were obtained for both types of gamma rays. The energy conversion efficiencies based on absorbed energy were found to be ∼1.6%, which is comparable to other previously described semiconducting systems. This result raises the prospect of energy recovery from nuclear wastes utilizing the present system, judging from the radiation tolerant nature of SiC. Additionally, we found different conversion efficiencies between the two samples during the same process. This could be explained using hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectroscopy measurements, suggesting the creation of Ni–Si compounds at the interface in the sample with poor performance. Hence, such combined measurements are useful to provide data that electrical measurements cannot provide us.
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28 December 2022
Research Article|
December 22 2022
Direct energy conversion using Ni/SiC Schottky junction in 237Np and 241Am gamma ray regions
Special Collection:
Radiation Effects in Materials
Tatsuo Fukuda
;
Tatsuo Fukuda
a)
(Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Materials Sciences Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
, 1-1-1, Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: fukuda@spring8.or.jp
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Masaaki Kobata
;
Masaaki Kobata
(Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Materials Sciences Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
, 1-1-1, Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
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Takahisa Shobu
;
Takahisa Shobu
(Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology)
1
Materials Sciences Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
, 1-1-1, Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
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Kenji Yoshii
;
Kenji Yoshii
(Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Materials Sciences Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
, 1-1-1, Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
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Junichiro Kamiya
;
Junichiro Kamiya
(Investigation)
2
J-PARC Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
, 2-4 Shirakata, Tokai, Naka, Ibaraki 319-1195, Japan
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Yosuke Iwamoto
;
Yosuke Iwamoto
(Investigation)
3
Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
, 2-4 Shirakata, Tokai, Naka, Ibaraki 319-1195, Japan
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Takahiro Makino
;
Takahiro Makino
(Investigation)
4
National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST)
, 1233, Watanuki, Takasaki, 370-1292, Gunma, Japan
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Yuichi Yamazaki
;
Yuichi Yamazaki
(Investigation)
4
National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST)
, 1233, Watanuki, Takasaki, 370-1292, Gunma, Japan
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Takeshi Ohshima
;
Takeshi Ohshima
(Investigation)
4
National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST)
, 1233, Watanuki, Takasaki, 370-1292, Gunma, Japan
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Yasuhiro Shirai
;
Yasuhiro Shirai
(Investigation)
5
Global Research Center for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials Science, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan
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Tsuyoshi Yaita
Tsuyoshi Yaita
(Conceptualization, Writing – original draft)
1
Materials Sciences Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
, 1-1-1, Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
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a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: fukuda@spring8.or.jp
Note: This paper is part of the Special Topic on Radiation Effects in Materials.
J. Appl. Phys. 132, 245102 (2022)
Article history
Received:
May 15 2022
Accepted:
December 05 2022
Citation
Tatsuo Fukuda, Masaaki Kobata, Takahisa Shobu, Kenji Yoshii, Junichiro Kamiya, Yosuke Iwamoto, Takahiro Makino, Yuichi Yamazaki, Takeshi Ohshima, Yasuhiro Shirai, Tsuyoshi Yaita; Direct energy conversion using Ni/SiC Schottky junction in 237Np and 241Am gamma ray regions. J. Appl. Phys. 28 December 2022; 132 (24): 245102. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0099136
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