The research of nano-sized objects’ properties raises a growing interest nowadays because of the tendency to miniaturization, especially in the field of nanoelectronics. Modern achievements in the sphere of micro- and nano-electromechanical systems’ (MEMS and NEMS) creation, uniting nanoelectronics and mechanical elements such as driving mechanisms, pumps or engines in one device, can be perspective for usage as microscopic physical, biological or chemical actuators. The problem of creation of miniature nuclear power sources for MEMS and NEMS power supply is one of the constraints of these devices’ mass deployment.

MEPhI Department of Physical and technical problems of metrology has gathered a large experience in research of metal nanoclusters using different experimental methods and numerical modelling. The grant of the Russian Science Foundation research will allow our scientists to continue research in this direction and use results for creation of high efficiency thermoelectric material element on the basis of nanostructured film consisting of nano-sized clusters of metals (~1 nm) is conducted in the work made at the Department №78 as a part project.

There is no phononic heat transfer in such structure because phonons are locked up inside nano-sized metal clusters, and electronic conduction, close to the metal one, which is provided by percolation effects, is preserved in the samples.

Thermal electromotive force of such structure can surpass thermal electromotive force of usual thermal elements.

Figure 1. Model of miniature radioisotope nuclear power source worked out in MEPhI based on: (I) – radioisotope source of micron size on the example of Th-228; (II) – thermoelectric element on the basis of nanostructured film consisting of nanoclusters of gold

High-efficiency thermo-electric energy converters of alpha- and beta-decay of radioactive nuclei into electricity will be created on the basis of special thermoelectric material - nanostructured film containing nano-sized clusters of metal and researched in the process of the project realization. Such thermoelectric converter is expected to have unrivaled record high thermal electromotive force.

The area of application of radioisotope sources with thermoelectric conversion is practically unlimited, from nuclear batteries of extra small size for supply of micro- and nano-electromechanical systems to devices for long autonomous work in far space.