Phenomenon · phenomenon:radioluminescence

Radioluminescence

Ionising decay radiation excites a scintillator or phosphor, which emits visible or ultraviolet photons; those photons can drive a photovoltaic cell in a two-stage nuclear battery.

Nuclear physicsfirst reported 1903also: scintillation, tritium light

Atlas record: 6 claims reference this phenomenon — 5 established and 1 demonstrated.

Explorerelations · matrix context · routes · sources · cite

conditions: solid · radioisotope required

6claims6enumerated routes1routes with complete-composition evidence0candidate routes not searched3cited sources

Relations

drives · 2

Beta particles—drives→Radioluminescenceestablished

a phosphor or scintillator (ZnS:Cu, plastic scintillator) excited by beta particles; tritium and Ni-63 sources are the usual choice for lifetime and shielding

Alpha particles—drives→Radioluminescenceestablished

produces · 1

Radioluminescence—produces→Photonsestablished

converts into · 1

Radioluminescence—converts into→Lightestablished

self-powered exit signs, watch dials and gun sights (tritium light sources)

member of · 1

Radioluminescence—member of→Radioluminescentestablished

implemented by · 1

Radioluminescence—implemented by→Radioluminescent (beta-photovoltaic) nuclear batterydemonstrated

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

family: Radioluminescent (C.39)

Enumerated routes through this · 6

Radioluminescent (beta-photovoltaic) nuclear battery7/7 est · demonstrated
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Beta particles → Radioluminescence → Light4/4 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioluminescence → Light4/4 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Beta particles → Radioluminescence → Photons → Photothermal absorption → Heat flow → Useful heat7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioluminescence → Photons → Photovoltaic effect → Electron–hole pairs → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioluminescence → Photons → Photothermal absorption → Heat flow → Useful heat7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway

Cited sources · 3

[1]
A. Iwan, W. Pellowski, K. A. Bogdanowicz. Conversion of Radiophotoluminescence Irradiation into Electricity in Photovoltaic Cells. A Review of Theoretical Considerations and Practical Solutions (2021)
Energies 14, 6186 · doi:10.3390/en14196186 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-20 · record
[2]
J. Russo et al.. A radioluminescent nuclear battery using volumetric configuration: 63Ni solution/ZnS:Cu,Al/InGaP (2017)
Applied Radiation and Isotopes 130, 66–74 · doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.09.018 · record
[3]
M. A. Prelas, et al.. A review of nuclear batteries (2014)
Progress in Nuclear Energy 75, 117–148 · doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2014.04.007 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record

Cite this entity

Physical Transformation Atlas (2026). entity phenomenon:radioluminescence: Radioluminescence. Dataset revision rbfbfcbb70e57 (hash of the canonical data). https://physical-transformation-atlas.wldud5192.workers.dev/phenomenon/radioluminescence

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