How to Make Solar Voltaic Cells

Example of mass-produced solar cells

Making your own solar voltaic cells to generate electricity from the power of the sun alone seems like a complex and daunting task, but isn't hard when you understand the theory behind it. Mass-produced solar cells operate by using the photoelectric process, in which sunlight knocks electrons in silicon loose, which are then channeled down wires and into your device. By using this same physical property, you can build your own solar voltaic cell in about an hour.

Things You'll Need

• ½ square-foot copper flashing
• Metal shears
• Electric burner
• Wide-mouthed glass jar
• Table salt
• Tap water
• Digital multimeter with alligator clips

Instructions

1. Cut the copper flashing in half with the metal shears, and set one panel aside for later. Put the other panel directly onto the electric burner.

2. Turn the burner to its highest setting and allow the panel to cook until a thick, black coating of cupric oxide covers the entire surface. Let it cook for 20 minutes more, and then shut off the burner.

3. Allow the metal to cool to room temperature, during which time flakes of cupric oxide will pop off. Once it's cool, gently scrub off the largest chunks of remaining black coating; you don't have to get it all.

4. Bend both the treated and untreated copper plates into gentle arcs that conform to the inside of the glass jar, and insert them. Make sure they are snug against the interior walls of the jar.

5. Mix 2 tbsp. of salt with enough tap water to fill the jar to just below the tops of the panels (about 1 inch below).

6. Clip the positive lead from the digital multimeter to the untreated copper plate, and the negative lead to the treated plate.

7. Bring your solar cell into the sun. Turn on the multimeter and set it to detect volts.

References

• World Watts: Make a Solar Cell in Your Kitchen