2026-10-04 MDPI Processes - Gabbar et al. 2026 review

H.A. Gabbar et al., "Modelling and Evaluation of Nuclear Battery Designs and Performance", Processes 14(17) 2834 (2026). [web] https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/14/17/2834

How a 2026 mainstream review describes the CIci-type "fission battery" (this is the review authors' characterization): - Section 2.1 describes the mechanism in Popa-Simil's terms: fragments hit "a high-atomic-number conductor", knock-on electrons "move through a thin insulating region and are collected by a low-atomic-number conductor". It cites Popa-Simil, "Super-capacitor-like Structure for Fission-Fusion Direct Nuclear Energy Conversion" (2015) as ref. [11] for the nanoscale layer thicknesses (10/30/50/20 nm and 2/10/20/10 nm). - Its maturity statement: "This technology remains mainly conceptual, with development reported through historical fission-electric cell studies, reactor-scale direct-conversion concepts, numerical models, and patent-stage devices." And: "These values describe proposed layer-scale configurations ... They should not be interpreted as standardized manufacturing dimensions". - Related references in the review: Safonov, "The Fission-Electric Cell Project" (ref. 10; RAND 1957 per the Klassen chapter); the Sandia "Magnetically Insulated Fission Electric Cell", reported as a theoretical ~60% direct-conversion concept (ref. 9, Sandia LabNews); Tsang et al., "Nuclear Voltaic Cell" patent (ref. 12); Tan, "Radiation Tolerant Nuclear Electric Cell", US20150115768A1 (ref. 13); Agarwal, Ballout & Gehin, "Fission Battery Initiative R&D Plan" (INL, 2023; ref. 8). - Its modelling uses an ideal upper bound of 0.85 We/Wth (fragment share of fission energy) and a Sandia-based 0.60 We/Wth. It says "Neither value represents demonstrated commercial battery performance." - Bearing: on claim 1 (>80%), the review's ideal ceiling of 85% is the same kind of number as Popa-Simil's 84% "upper conversion efficiency estimator" (fraction of energy available), not a measured efficiency. On claims 1-2, the principle is described in a 2026 peer-reviewed review as a recognised conceptual pathway with no demonstrated device.