SBIR Phase I: Low-Cost Isotope Battery for Long-Lived Applications

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project includes creating radioisotope materials which can be used for high performance power production decay batteries used in deep space, medical applications, unmanned drones, and other uses. These materials will be able to provide electrical power for months or years at a time enabling game changing technologies by enabling ubiquitous and readily available nuclear power to become a reality. Not only can this technology be used for power, but the specific isotopes produced can also support efforts to fight cancer, perform medical imaging, and explore natural resources. According to Allied Market Research, nuclear driven battery markets are expected to reach $87.2 billion by 2026.The unique capabilities of radioisotopes can provide many benefits in many different areas, but their rarity often limits their use. This SBIR Phase I project seeks to generate a power-producing radioisotope material from a naturally-occurring source and show that it can be used for power in a long-lived nuclear battery. The technical hurdles for this project include being able to use radioisotopes not currently considered for decay batteries and generating useful amounts of radioisotopes for an attractive cost. In order to overcome these hurdles, a functioning prototype will be constructed and driven with isotopes made at NPPR to empirically show feasibility. This will be accomplished by demonstrating the ability to induce radioactive decay in the feedstock, collecting the radioisotope produced, and showing its use in a power source. With the developments made in this project, radioisotopes will be more readily available. Medical, aerospace, defense, and many other markets will see great opportunities for advancement with the newly available materials. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.