Inorganic Perovskite Alphavoltaic Cells Based on CsPbBr ₃ for Efficient Nuclear Energy Harvesting

Reliable and long-lasting power sources are crucial for autonomous systems operating in extreme environments, such as space missions, deep-sea sensors, and implantable medical devices. In this regard, alphavoltaic cells, which convert the kinetic energy of α particles into electricity, are a promising alternative due to their potential high energy density and prolonged operational lifetimes. In this article, the use of the inorganic halide perovskite CsPbBr₃ is investigated as the active material in a CsPbBr₃/Ga₂O₃ heterojunction alphavoltaic cell. The devices were fabricated using close-space sublimation to deposit thick perovskite thin films and then experimentally tested under ²¹⁰Po α irradiation in combination with Monte Carlo-based simulations. The CsPbBr₃/Ga₂O₃ heterojunction showed an open-circuit voltage of 1.0 V with a short-circuit current density of 2.2 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm². Experimental charge collection in the resulting devices was 8.5 μC/cm² in a capacitor-based setup and 68.69 μC/cm² with a multichannel analyzer. The expected charge yield was calculated to be ∼408 μC/cm². More importantly, the device maintained its structural and electrical integrity after prolonged irradiation, demonstrating excellent material stability. These findings establish perovskite-based alphavoltaics as viable candidates for high-efficiency nuclear energy harvesting with potential applications in scalable, autonomous, and maintenance-free power systems. This work represents the first demonstration of thick, close-space sublimation-grown CsPbBr₃-based alphavoltaic devices exhibiting long-term structural and electrical stability under prolonged α irradiation.