My home made solar cell step by step

Here is a low power low efficiency photovoltaic cell that you can make you own in the kitchen
with materials from the hardware store.
This cell is made from cuprous oxide instead of silicon and you can build a working solar cell in 2 hours
to build it i follow this instruction: http://scitoys.com/scitoys/scitoys/echem/echem2.html
on

Step 1 Materials you will need

A sheet of copper flashing from the hardware store
A transparent CD case
Electric wire
Sodium bicarbonate or Table salt

An electric stove
hot glue
solder
Sheet metal shears for cutting the copper sheet

I suggest you visit http://scitoys.com there are many projects and interesting kit

Comments

[loose thread]

i tried to solder the wire, but it wasnt working, how do i do it? do i use soldering wire?

[loose thread]

does this cell produce the same amount of energy a cell in the actual solar panel?

[loose thread]

are you 100% sure that it will work?
sorry, but i am doing a science fair project, and i am stressing out

[alessiof76]

yes

[zking3]

question.... how much salt would you put in the solution??

[L'0@]

Can we use any other material in place of copper?Or can we use a copper wire?

[hemanath]

I want to know how silicon solar cells are manufactured

[21ali2ali1995]

i hope it will work. i will try and tell u.
i have a question . can will built a pannel by joining many cell like this one ?
and
how much electricity it can produce?

[alessiof76]

Of course! the output voltage is proportional to the number of cells connected in series

[bubbachr]

why cant you let flame contact the copper

[alessiof76]

contact with the flame does not produce the right oxide

[manny6967]

Thanks for the info I'm gonna try it and post my results..

[Ivraine]

Hey, I've seen this project before in a book in our school library. I believe the original project called for something along the lines of silver nitrate? It said it could produce about 4x the amount of power as yours, but it needed carcinogenic chemicals, high-power acids, and lots of money. Great project though, I liked that you didn't need to make a more complicated solution.

[ki-rou]

sir can i make many of this solar panel and then connect them to each other like a battery? ,, and if i can how many of this solar panel should i make for me to be able to power a small light bulb used for toys?

[natester632]

There's 11 minutes left and there isn't any black

[natester632]

Mine started forming white-ish spots, is that normal???

[Jaif14]

Is there any way to cook the copper sheet on a gas stove?

[natester632]

Put it in a pan

[alessiof76]

Sorry i do dot konw, but not directy over a flame

[ki-rou]

how many of this should i make for me to be able to power a small dynamo usually used for toy cars? pls answer.

[100389]

do i nee to cook the other sheet of copper? just asking..thank you

[alessiof76]

no, cook only one plate

[100389]

thank you

[JerinROX]

can you please explain me how does it work.

[alessiof76]

When sunlight hits the electrons in the cuprous oxide, some of the electrons gain enough energy from the sunlight to jump past the bandgap and become free to conduct electricity. The free electrons move into the solution, then into the clean copper plate, into the wire, through the meter, and back to the cuprous oxide plate.

[JerinROX]

My doubt is how did the cooked copper plate become positive and the other negative terminal. Which is the anode and cathode??

[JerinROX]

I made this as my Physics experiment and i got full marks. Thank you

[JerinROX]

hello mr. Alessiof i got a thick piece of copper will it work?? Thank You

[alessiof76]

yes if you cook it

[JerinROX]

can you tell me why should we heat the copper. or what happens me when copper is heated.

[alessiof76]

i cook the copper to obtain the correct oxidation

[rensatoshi]

Is it really necessary to use an electric stove? or we could just put it in a pan over a gas stove.. just asking

[alessiof76]

you can try! someone told me that it's okay but I never tried

[strmrnnr]

Just wondering if you can use two large pieces the same size with a small gap in the case. Or, do both pieces have to see the sun for it to work. Side A would be the shiny copper and side B would show the oxidized copper.

[alessiof76]

I can not translate well to your question, if you write it with other words i'll reply, I apologize

[strmrnnr]

I added a drawing. Would this work better or do they have to be side by side?

[gapl]

hi it is nice idea can you please explain the idea to me. It would be very helpful

[alessiof76]

now I understand what you wanted to say! thanks! Great idea! the path of ions is a little 'longer but the whole surface of the cell can collect photons thanks for sharing your idea! it only remains to test it I apologize for my bad English Ciao Alessio

[Fantasma25]

 What did you use to glue the copper to the cd box? Can I glue the wires to the copper as well in stead of weld them?

[JerinROX]

should we fill the CD cover with the solution??