Given that Bristol researchers did not explain the physics behind their diamond battery we can only speculate but considering some recent developments we can ma

Given that Bristol researchers did not explain the physics behind their diamond battery we can only speculate but considering some recent developments we can make some good guesses. It probably functions similar to a betavolatic cell. (See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betavoltaic_device https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betavoltaic_device) In a typical configuration you have a P-N semiconductor junction placed next to beta emitter. The beta particles impact the PN junction and create electron-hole pairs that are pulled apart by the junction to produce a current. The use of diamond seems like a could be a significant innovation: 1) Carbon-14 is an efficient beta emitter and could make op part of all of the diamond material. 2) Diamond has a wide band-gap which is necessary for high efficiency conversion to electricity. 3) Has strong resistance to radiation damage. In one configuration the diamond would be layered on top of a silicon P-N junction so it works like a conventional betavoltaic device. (see: http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2013/ph241/harrison2/ http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2013/ph241/harrison2/) A recent patent shows that diamond is a very efficient moderator for injecting electrons into the junction. (see https://www.google.com/patents/US9064610 https://www.google.com/patents/US9064610) Considering that diamond is itself a semiconductor we could also do away with the silicon. For example diamond is being considered for highly efficient photovoltaic cells. (see: http://exploration.vanderbilt.edu/news/news_diamond.htm http://exploration.vanderbilt.edu/news/news_diamond.htm) It is also being considered for production of next-gen schottky diodes. (see: http://www10.edacafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?articleid=207252&section=ICNews http://www10.edacafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?artic...) The diamond could be stacked next to a conducting metal to create a Skottky barrier which is a type of P-N junction. The beta particles would excite the electrons with enough energy to push them over the barrier and create a current. (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schottky_barrier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schottky_barrier)