Development of rapid beta detector using PIN diode to be used in quality control of Ni-63 beta-voltaic battery

We designed a beta radiation detector to measure beta particles from Nickel-63. Since the beta radiation has energy below 66.7 keV, a PIN diode was used. Film dosimetry and a liquid scintillation counter were used to measure the absorbed dose rate and radioactivity of the source. These results were compared with the detector count. The measured count rate increased proportionally to the radioactivity of the source, while the absorbed dose rate was not correlated to the activity. The beta radiation detector can be used to measure surface emission rates of Ni-63 quickly without destruction of the source.