The Alternative materials

for Solar Panel

An Experimental Research

Presented to the Faculty of Senior High school

UNIVERSIDAD DE STA. ISABEL

Elias Angeles St, Naga City, Cam. Sur

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for

Capstone Project

Camacho, Maxine Anneka G.

Canaveral, Ashlind Rose N.

Llorente, Joanna Carla L.

Villareal, Sophia Francheska M.

Villamonte, Denise G.

Grade 12 - STEM D

Mr. Alvin Posangco

March 2023
ABSTRACT
Introduction

The use of solar panels have been increasing over the past years for their known

ability to convert sunlight into electricity. The benefits of this renewable and sustainable

energy source caught the attention of the people as Solar Panels can save money on

electricity bills over time and can be a viable option for powering homes and businesses

in areas without access to traditional power grids. In addition, solar panels can help

lower energy costs and increase energy independence.

Solar Panels are highly relevant in today’s time as the effects of climate change

are being felt all over the world that we must take responsibility for. Solar Panels help

reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions, making it a key

component in the fight against climate change. It will help us to combat climate change

and promote sustainable energy practices. However, the cost of production of the Solar

Panels can be quite expensive.

The aim of this study is to develop a solar panel that is cost-effective that works

just as well as a regular solar panel. The researchers aim to use these to create a

low-cost solar panel that will be a huge assistance to those who wish to reduce

greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers hope to create a device that does not need

any toxic fluids to transport heat that might harm the environment.
Review of Literature

According to A. Wibowo et al. (2020) Zinc oxide has been identified as a viable

material for solar cells due to its high conductivity, electron mobility, and photo-corrosion

resistance. It is also reasonably priced. It has been appealing because of the electron

routes, which reduce the impact of the surface. Because the linked pores for greater

penetration are big, the use of Zinc Oxide has been explored to improve light-harvesting

efficiency. The wavelength near the photonic band gap increased dye absorption. The

structures of ZnO have also been seen to exhibit various characteristics, such as

enhanced electron transport.

According to S. Patel (2022) The Ferric Chloride used in PCB etching is utilized

to create the copper traces that link the circuit board components. People use it to

manufacture circuit boards. Ferric chloride is employed as a catalyst in chemical

processes and as an etchant in microelectronics manufacturing. It accelerates etching

and prevents staining, lowering the chance of sludging in solution. HCL in Ferric

Chloride is an excellent stainless steel etchant.

According to the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (2022) , ZnO is

highly essential for solar panels as it is a good conductor of electricity. Zinc Oxide can

be used to achieve higher solar-cell efficiency by increasing energy conversion. Due to

the Zinc Oxide, solar cells can enhance the absorption of sunlight which generates
more electricity and improves the electrical transportation. It is widely used due to its

characteristics such as low cost, flexible and efficient. ZnO's structure plays a significant

influence in determining how well a device performs when utilized as an electron

collector.

According to Can Han et al. (2022), copper plated heterojunction solar cells have

higher power conversion efficiency. The performance of a reference device made using

screen printing and utilizing silver contacts was compared to that of the copper plated

solar cell. According to the investigation, the copper-based device could perform better

than the reference cell both electrically and optically.

According to Nick Lavars (2021), Copper is much more available as a source for it

is easier to recycle and cheaper making it a good alternative material for solar panels.

Copper is easier to recover from old modules which makes it easily recycled in the

future that helps hugely from a sustainability perspective. In the coming decades, the

demand for the most efficient solar panels that could be offered will rise, and copper as

a replacement for silver will contribute hugely in decreasing global warming.

Furthermore, copper is around 100 times cheaper than silver and is far more abundant.

According to Fraunhofer (2022), due to the rising price and low availability of raw

materials for the production of solar panels, there has been a development of
electroplating process for the promising heterojunction technology that involves the

substitution of silver, an expensive material to copper, which is a more available material

which brings two benefits which is not only does it ensures the sustainability of the

production of solar panels but it also makes it significantly cheaper. In addition, copper

can bring photovoltaic production much closer to the circular economy. The narrow

contact lines of copper and high conductivity of electroplated copper improves the

electricity yield.

According to Jeff Pereyras (2020), The Feasibility Study on the Installation of

Solar Photovoltaic Rooftop System for the Pangasinan State University. Solar energy is

a challenging topic, particularly for a large installation. Since Pangasinan State

University is big and they’re trying to find ways on how they will lessen their cost and

effect on the environment which is related to their activities. The least expensive option,

a solar photovoltaic rooftop system, has been established, with a payback period of nine

and a half years and a cost of 10 pesos per kWh. With the 3,360 square meters of

rooftop area that are now accessible, up to 336,000 kWh, or 57% of the four campuses,

might be produced with solar energy in 2018. 100% of energy from solar power

installations can not be produced by the university since the cost of it is quite expensive.

If the University is installed with a solar PV rooftop system, the university will have an

outright saving of 38% on a monthly electric bill that is why having a solar PV rooftop

system should be considered by the University.

 According to Copper Development Association (2007), Copper has been used for

a long time in solar heating/hot water systems, and is commonly used in exchanging

heat. The solar PV system is producing an electricity by the action of sunshine on

certain semiconductors, including mono-, polycrystalline and amorphous silicon and

so-called thin-film materials like cadmium telluride, gallium arsenide, and the currently

most promising material (and the one with the longest name):

copper-indium-gallium-diselenide, Cu(InGa)Se2, or CIGS.

According to E. Bellini (2022), The copper-plated solar cell outperformed the

screen printing (SP) device, which relies on silver (AG) contacts both optically and

electrically. The copper-plated cell had a 22.0% efficiency, an open circuit voltage of

716mV, a short-circuit current of 38.07mA cm2 and an 80.76% fill factor. The SC cell

had a slightly higher efficiency of 22.12% and a lower open-circuit voltage of 710mV,

with a short-circuit current of 37.24 mA cm2 and a fill factor of 76.11%, respectively.

According to DSP, (discover solar power) (2022) Nail polish is made of a

substance known as resin. This barrier helps reflect light better, allowing solar cells to

generate more power from direct sunlight when light strikes the solar panel, it reflects off

the nail polish and enters the solar cell. This improves the performance of the solar cell.

Furthermore, nail polish helps in protecting the surface from scratches and other

damage. Not only is this method simple but it is also inexpensive.

Statement of the Problem

A research project must have a basis, in order to be completed. The researchers

developed several queries in order to address the issue of introducing alternative

materials for solar panels. With this basis, the researchers will be able to focus on what

is the demand and the study's limitations.

This study seeks to answer the following questions;

1. What is the characteristics of Solgia in terms of;

a. Power Outlet

b. Voltage Input

c. Short Circuit Current

2. What is the significant difference of Solgia and bought solar panels in terms of;

a. Power Outlet

b. Voltage Input

c. Short Circuit Current

3. How effective is Solgia as an alternative to store-bought solar panels?

Conceptual Framework
 The researchers aim to make a solar panel made out of alternative materials that is

much more accessible and affordable than the regular materials used to make solar

panels. The diagram below shows the variable involved in our study.

The diagram depicts the conceptual framework of the study, with the Solar Panel

as the input and alternate materials for panel implementation. The materials we utilized

are simpler to create and can serve as an alternative solar panel to the current market.

We will evaluate and contrast the efficacy of our product to that of a standard solar

panel. The attributes of each solar panel will be the next input for us to determine its

efficacy. Finally, once we demonstrate that the solar panel was beneficial in the
household where the experiment was conducted, we will be able to put our planned DIY

Solar Panel to use.

Hypothesis

Ho: There is no significant difference between Solgia and bought Solar Panels.

Ha: There is a significant difference betweeb Solgia and bought Solar Panels.

Significance of the Study

The researchers believe that this would benefit the following;

This study will benefit the homeowners utilizing solar energy to provide a

dependable energy source while lowering the cost of electricity and maintenance.

This study will benefit the environment because Solar energy doesn't produce

any "greenhouse" gasses that trap heat, such as carbon dioxide. It prevents the

environmental harm brought on by drilling or mining for fossil fuels.

This study will benefit the students because this research will increase the

student's understanding of the topic raised by this paper on solar panels, particularly

with regard to solar energy use.

 This study will benefit the communities because of the Increasing energy supply

and decreasing reliance on imported fuels. fostering economic growth and employment

in manufacturing, installation, and other areas

This study will benefit agricultural production because solar-powered irrigation

systems (SPIS) provide dependable and affordable energy, potentially lowering

irrigation energy costs.

Scope and Delimitation

The study's goal is to create a cheaper alternative solar panel manufactured from

recycled materials. In addition, the purpose of this research is to establish the

effectiveness of the various materials utilized to make a solar panel. The experimental

investigation will be carried out to determine whether the materials used to make solar

panels are superior to others in terms of advantages and applications.

The researchers would be the subjects in this study who would test and prove the

efficacy of alternate materials in the school laboratory. It would be difficult for the

researchers to conduct the study due to a lack of facilities and an inadequate number of

respondents, both of which are critical for the study. The researchers did not include it to

determine if the solar panel is charging while only being heated and how many volts it is

charged. Because of the uncontrolled weather, there are days when we can't predict if it

will be sunny, which the solar panel requires. The research will be carried out at a
school laboratory at Universidad de Sta. Isabel's expected time to complete the study is

two weeks.

Definition of terms

For the clarity of the discussion, the succeeding terms have been operationally

defined:

Solar Panel - Solar technologies use photovoltaic (PV) panels or mirrors to

concentrate solar radiation to convert sunlight into electrical energy. This energy can be

converted into electricity or stored in batteries or thermal storage.

Ferric Chloride - a corrosive, acidic chemical substance that eats away at any

copper on the board that is not covered by the marker's ink. Pour a little amount of ferric

chloride into a plastic container with a lid, just enough to thoroughly cover the board.

Zinc Oxide - The deliberate addition of zinc oxide to the PCB powder sample

resulted in Br fixation as zinc bromide. It also resulted in the enhancement of

brominated compound release when compared to pure PCB.

Open circuit voltage - the greatest voltage that a solar panel can produce while

no load is applied to it.

Power Outlet - A solar panel's output varies throughout the day and might

present a fire danger if its peak power exceeds what the outlet can handle.

Short Circuit Current - When an electrical current runs along an unanticipated

channel with an extremely low impedance. As a result, the circuit receives an unusually

high current.
 Sunlight - This energy generates electrical charges that move in reaction to an

internal electrical field in the cell, resulting in the flow of electricity.

Greenhouse Gasses - Heat-trapping gasses in the earth's atmosphere.

Photovoltaic panels - PV panels are made up of a number of individual cells

that are linked together to create power at the correct voltage.

Photovoltaic cells - a non mechanical device that directly transforms sunlight

into electricity. Some PV cells are capable of converting artificial light into energy.

Photons, or solar energy particles, make up sunlight.

Materials and methods

 The materials used in this project are Single Sided Copper board, Black and Red

Wire, Ferric Chloride, Water, Isopropyl Alcohol, Pure Oxide, Clear Nail Polish, Cotton,

Soldering Iron, and Red Diode Light.

The equipment that was used in this project was Solder, Digital Multimeter, Plies, X-acto

knife, Tupperwares, Rectangular tub, cloth, and tweezers.

Preparing all of the supplies required for this experiment, Single Sided Copper

Board should be 10 cm x 15 cm in size and polished with a clean cloth. Draw the layout

using the Permanent Marker Pen in the Copper Board. The Ferric Chloride or etching

solution must be placed within a rectangular tub. After that, dip the Copper Board with

the layout in the etching solution and shake it for 10 minutes. With tweezers, remove the

Copper Board and place it in another tub of clean, fresh water to wash. After rinsing it

with fresh water, spritz it with isopropyl alcohol and carefully remove the permanent

marker off the Copper Board using a cotton or tissue. Next, apply a 40% concentration

of ZnO or Zinc Oxide paste to the layer section of the pattern and remove the surplus

paste with a card or any other tool that can distribute and remove the excess paste. The

paste should be dried. If the paste is already dry, connect the positive and negative wire

in both lines using Soldering iron. After that, apply a clear nail polish to the layer section

of the arrangement on the Copper Board. Lastly, connect the final wires to the Red

Diode light.
Results and Analysis (lahat)

An independent -sample t-test was conducted to compare Solgia and store

bought Solar Panel in terms of power outlet, voltage input and short circuit current.

There was no significant difference in the scores for Solgia (M=6.2, SD= 2.6) and store

bought solar panels (M=8.3, SD = 3.5); t(20.330)= -.474, p= 0.089. These results

suggest that there is no significant difference between Solgia and the store bought solar

panel.

Discussion

Findings

Problem 1 : What are the characteristics of Solgia in terms of; a. Power Outlet, b.

Voltage Input & c. Short Circuit Current

Findings :

According to the data gathered, the Solgia solar panel does not have an outlet or switch

to turn on the lights, Solgia solar panels will automatically turn on once it gets dark. The

voltage increases as the solar panel absorbs sunlight radiation, sunlight increases the

voltage of each board in our solar panel while being charged using sunlight. Because of

the several attempts that were made in doing Solgia solar panels, there are a lot of

instances where our board experienced a short circuit.

Problem 2 : What is the significant difference between Solgia and store bought solar

panels in terms of; a. Power Outlet, b. Voltage Input & c. Short Circuit Current.

Findings :

According to the data gathered, solar panels bought in stores are only needed when

you need a high voltage of electricity that you need to use, but when you only need to

use it for light bulbs or for lighting, Solgia or DIY solar panels is what you can opt for to

save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Problem 3 : How effective is Solgia as an alternative to store-bought solar panels?

Findings :

According to the data gathered, Solgia is not that effective when it comes to devices

that need high voltage because the materials used are cheap and affordable so Solgia

solar panels can only handle low power energy to light the light bulbs.

Conclusion

According to the data analysis, there is no noticeable difference between the DIY Solgia

solar panel and the shop bought solar panel because the store bought panel had a

greater voltage input and power outlet. Furthermore, the technique in which we will

apply a homemade zinc oxide paste with a 40% concentration made the solar panel

appear unclean. Ferric chloride is a chemical, it is a must that it shouldn’t be reused all

the time, there may be a chemical reaction with each etching procedure.

Recommendation

As a result, we conclude that the Zinc Oxide that we should use is already a

ready-made paste, which will not make the Solar panel seem dirty and will prevent any

short circuits, which will enhance the voltage of the panel. Additionally, it follows that in

order to meet the objectives, each pcb etching operation should utilize fresh ferric

chloride.
References:

A. Wibowo et al. (2020) ZnO nanostructured materials for emerging solar cell

applications. Royal society of Chemistry

[Link]

S. Patel (2022) Understanding the Process of Etching Solution for PCB.

Rayming PCB & Assembly

[Link]

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (2022) Gwangju Institute of

Science and Technology scientists realize large-area organic solar cells that are

low-cost, flexible, and efficient EurekAlert! AAAS

[Link]

Can Han et al. (2022) Copper-plated heterojunction solar cell with 22.1%

efficiency, 0.99 bifaciality factor PV MAGAZINE

[Link]

2-1-efficiency-0-99-bifaciality-factor/

Nick Lavars (2021) Sustainable solar cell leans on copper to claim world-record

efficiency NEW ATLAS

[Link]
 Fraunhofer (2022) Electroplating innovation for solar cells replaces silver with

copper [Link]

[Link]

Jeff Pereyras (2020) Feasibility Study on the Installation of Solar Photovoltaic

Rooftop System for the Pangasinan State University Social Science Research Network

[Link]

Copper Development Association (2007) Copper-based Solar Cells:

Good for the Environment, Good for the Consumer Copper Development Association

Inc.

[Link]

DSP, (2022) How to Fix Solar Lights with Nail Polish: The Easy Way Discover

Solar Power

[Link]