Nuclear Micro-batteries
Professor Blanchard is also interested in producing nuclear-powered microbatteries for use in MEMS devices. Current research involves the incorporation of radioactive isotopes into such devices and production of electricity using thermoelectric phenomena.
Papers and Reports
- Full Paper on Microinsulation for MEMS
- IEEE Spectrum article on nuclear batteries - Download pdf
- Microinsulation paper from 2005 PowerMEMS Conference
- A Nuclear Microbattery for MEMS Devices: html pdf
- Self-reciprocating Radioisotope-powered Cantilever - J. Appl. Phys. 92, 1122 ? 1127 (2002)
- Betacell Paper from Guo and Lal at Cornell
- Modeling of a Self-Oscillating Cantilever (pdf)
- Final Report of first NEER Grant
Presentations
- Slides from Hollywood ANS Meeting (June 2002)
- Slides from Korea Workshop (January 2005)
- Slides UCSD seminar (April 2010)
Data
- A List of Pure Beta Emitters
Bibliographies
Patents
- Direct charge radioisotope activation and power generation - US Patent 6,479,920
In the News
- Sunday Times (London) - July 11, 1999
- Los Angeles Times - [Home Edition] LEE DYE; The Los Angeles Times; Aug 30, 1999; pg. 4
- Wired News - July 1, 1999
- Nuclear Energy Institute - Nuclear Energy Insight, March 2001, page 6
- ASME NED Newsletter - Fall 2001, page 4
- New Scientist - vol. 172 issue 2318, November 24, 2001, page 30
- New York Times - CIRCUITS | January 10, 2002, Section G, Page 7, Column 1
- The Economist - March 16-22, 2002; page 30 of the Technology Quarterly insert
- Nature Publishing Group - Materials Update - July 25, 2002
- Science News - August 24, 2002, vol. 162, p. 125
- Space Daily - October 18, 2002
- EETimes - November 8, 2002
- Mechanical Engineering Magazine - December 2002
- Tech Watch - Vol. 1, Issue 18, Dec. 16, 2002
- Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - September/October 1999, Vol. 55, No. 5, pp. 11-13
- IEEE Spectrum, September 2004, page 36
- The Feature - Dec 23, 2004
- Physorg.com - Jan 10, 2007
- ZPEnergy.com - Jan 10, 2007
- What's Next in Science and Technology - Jan 11, 2007
- Science Daily - Jan 12, 2007
- The
Engineer Online - Jan 19, 2007
- Wisconsin State Journal - Jan 21, 2007