Importance

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Abstract

The Gamma Voltaic Cell is designed to capture the energy of gamma rays emitted from spent nuclear fuel rods and directly convert it to electric power, much the same as a photovoltaic cell converts sunlight to electricity. The cell takes advantage of Compton scattering and the different probability of interaction between dense metals and light metals for electrons and energetic photons. The cell uses multiple alternating layers of a dense metal and light metal separated by a mesh of non-conducting material such as fiberglass. The gamma ray interacts with the dense metal to free a recoil electron (to be captured by the light metal) and a somewhat lower energy photon that still usually would pass through the light metal layer. This lower energy photon can again undergo Compton scattering in the dense metal layer, until it is finally absorbed by the photoelectric effect. The excess electrons on the light metal layer can be connected to an external load and another wire to lead them back to the dense metal layer.

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First Claim