Build a Homemade Solar Cell Project
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ScribdTranslationsBuild a Homemade Solar Cell Project
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ScribdTranslationsHomemade solar cell (science project)
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To build a homemade Grätzel type photovoltaic cell, click here
IMPORTANT NOTE: The cell described below is for informational purposes only.
educational and not for generating electricity on a large scale.
For those who are not very familiar, a solar cell is a device that
it transforms the sun's light energy into electrical energy. A solar panel or
Photovoltaic is composed of an array of solar cells connected in series.
or parallel (generally, 36 cell series arrangements are used, but this
depends on the manufacturer.
To make our cell work, we need a material that produces the
photovoltaic effect, which is generally a semiconductor like silicon. In this
in case we are going to use cuprous oxide (Cu2O), which due to its materials like
semiconductor was used in the manufacture of diodes before silicon.
As we mentioned, this solar cell will not help us to illuminate a house, but
It's an interesting project that can be done easily. This is because
the material we are going to use is cuprous oxide and not silicon or germanium that is
used in the manufacturing of commercial cells and have greater efficiency.
The operation is simple, solar light energy provides it with enough energy.
to the electrons of the outer layer of the oxide, so that they become
free electrons. These pass through the saltwater, which is our electrolyte and
they arrive at the clean board, returning through the wires to the burned board.
The greater the radiation, the more free electrons we will obtain.
and therefore the current will be greater.
Materials:
A sheet of Copper (we use roughly a sheet of 30 x 30 cm x
1/16" to make three pairs of cells of 10x10 cm
An electric stove
Cables with crocodile clips.
Plastic bottle (preferably one with a good diameter to prevent it from
plates come into contact
table salt
Water
Ammeter/Multimeter
Others:
Shear
Tweezers
Procedure:
First wash your hands to avoid transferring grease to the cell at the time of
work. Then, cut the cell so that its area can be
totally heated by the burner you are using (We work with
cells of 10 x 10 cm). C heats the cell on the stove for half an hour
approximately an hour. It is advisable to have washed the cell beforehand to avoid
that there are traces of grease.
As the cell warms up, it will acquire a color like the one seen in the
Figure above. After a period of time, a layer will begin to form.
black that is cuprous oxide. We must ensure that a good layer is formed.
oxide, in order to work (half an hour of warming up is sufficient).
Now let the plate cool for about 20 minutes. You will notice that it will have
formed scales that you can separate by lightly hitting the plate. No
Clean the plate completely or the experiment will be ruined.
Finally, cut a plate of the same size as the previous one. Assemble the following
assembly, connect each plate with a crocodile clip, fill a container with salt water
(it is better if this is heated beforehand or if you add lemon to the water) and place the
plates looking at each other, trying to avoid contact.
You should check with the multimeter that the unburned board is the positive pole.
and the burnt is the negative. The current will depend on the area of the plate and the
solar radiation of the moment. You can make combinations of this cell in series
the parallel to obtain higher voltages or currents.