How To Make a Solar Electric Cell
The solar cells used in photovoltaic solar panels are made out of silicates, but a cruder solar cell can be made in any kitchen. All that is necessary is a trip to the hardware store. The power output for these cells will likely be too low for dedicated, household use, but they make for a great science project and could be used to power small devices like fish pond pumps.
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Things You'll Need
- Sheet metal sheers
- Clean copper sheeting
- All-metal thongs
- Electric hot plate/stove
- Plastic scraper
- Electrical alligator clips with wiring.
- Glass or heavy plastic jar with a wide mouth
- Salt
Instructions
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1
Use the sheet metal sheers to cut a square or rectangle from the copper sheeting. This piece should be about the same size as the heating coil of the electric hot plate or stove.
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2
Switch the burner on to its highest setting.
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3
Set the copper sheet onto the plate, and leave it there for at least half an hour. The hot copper will react to form black cupric oxide on its surface.
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4
Take the copper sheet off the burner with the thongs, and place it where it can safely cool. Switch the burner off.
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5
Use the plastic scraper to remove the black oxide deposits. Using plastic scraper with minimum force will get rid of the flaky black oxide, but leave behind the desired red oxide beneath it. Too much force or a metal scraper will take some of the red oxide along with the black, so use the right tool and take your time.
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6
Do Step 1 again to make a fresh copper sheet.
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7
Place these sheets into a wide-mouthed glass or heavy, clear plastic jar. The sheets should be bent to adjust to the curve of the jars walls, which will be easy as copper is malleable. The sheets should not come into direct contact; if they touch during while producing electric current, the result will be a short circuit.
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8
Take the alligator clips and clip them so that the sheets and jar are clipped together. The negative (black) alligator clip should be attached to the red oxide, or "cooked" sheet, and the positive (red) alligator clip to the clean, "uncooked" copper plate.
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9
Make some salt water. The water needs to be saturated, so keep adding salt to warm water until it stops dissolving.
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10
Fill the jar to about halfway with salt water.
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11
Connect the wires from the alligator clips to either to an inverter, a battery and charge controller, or a DC-compliant device, such as a light bulb.
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