Radiation-Resilience Layered Structure for Direct Energy Conversion Devices (Radwich)

Reliable power generation in extreme or remote environments is challenging, especially where conventional energy sources or battery replacement are impractical. Devices exposed to radiation or harsh operating conditions often experience material degradation that reduces efficiency and operational lifespan over time. Existing compact power systems may also struggle to balance durability, scalability, and continuous energy output. This creates a need for resilient energy conversion technologies capable of long-term operation in demanding environments.

 

Researchers at Arizona State University and collaborators have developed Radwich, a layered energy conversion device that directly converts radiation from an embedded radioactive source into electricity. The system incorporates radiation-hard windows, charge contact layers, absorbers, and reflective layers, each independently optimized before assembly for flexible and scalable manufacturing. Integrated active healing technologies help mitigate radiation-induced damage, extending device lifespan and maintaining performance. This compact architecture enables efficient, continuous power generation in challenging environments where reliable long-term energy is essential.

 

Radwich is a multi-layer device that converts embedded radioactive radiation directly into electricity with high efficiency and durability.