Preparation of Ni-63 Source for the Fabrication of Betavoltaic Battery

A beta radiation source, Ni-63, is prepared by electrical deposition of radioactive Ni-63 ions on a thin non-radioactive nickel foil. Ni-63 plating is similar to other electroplating processes that employ soluble metal anodes. Specifically, it requires the passage of direct current (DC) between two electrodes that are immersed in a conductive, aqueous solution of nickel salts. The flow of a DC causes one of the electrodes to dissolve and the other electrode to become covered with nickel. To establish the coating conditions for Ni-63, Niplating solution is prepared by dissolving metal particles, and the deposition conditions have been optimized by studying the influence of the current density. Also, Ni-63 is prepared by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is widely used for shaping, and coating for preparing uniform ceramic films with various thickness and assembling charged particles on electrodes with various morphologies. Since the discovery of repairing pit by using EPD method, well dispersed metal nanoparticles in suspension are applied to self-repairing pit on the metal surface. In order to deposit Ni nanoparticles, the EPD was executed by using two electrode cells in the suspension which was produced in organic solvents using HKD-2 as a dispersant. The coating of Ni particles on substrate of Ni plate was fabricated in suspension at 7 wt% HKD- 2 or more. It was found that the EPD process was important not only zeta potential of the suspension but also conductivity