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My home made solar cell step by step

by alessiof76 on May 3, 2009

Table of Contents
My home made solar cell step by step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intro: My home made solar cell step by step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 1: Materials you will need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 2: How to prepare copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 3: Cooking the copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 4: Prepare the cooked copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 5: Assemble the cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 6: Fill and seal the cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 7: Test the cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

http://www.instructables.com/id/My-home-made-solar-cell-1/

Intro: 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

http://www.instructables.com/id/My-home-made-solar-cell-1/

Step 2: How to prepare copper

The first step is to cut a piece of the copper sheeting that is about the size of the burner on the stove. Wash your hands so they don't have any grease or oil on them.
Then wash the copper sheet with soap or cleanser to get any oil or grease off of it. Use the sandpaper or wire brush to thoroughly clean the copper sheeting, so that any
sulphide or other light corrosion is removed.
Next, place the cleaned and dried copper sheet on the burner and turn the burner to its highest setting.

http://www.instructables.com/id/My-home-made-solar-cell-1/

Step 3: Cooking the copper

cook the copper for at least 30 min.
As the copper gets hotter, the colors are replaced with a black coating of cupric oxide. This is not the oxide we want, but it will flake off later, showing the reds, oranges,
pinks, and purples of the cuprous oxide layer underneath.
The last bits of color disappear as the burner starts to glow red.
When the burner is glowing red-hot, the sheet of copper will be coated with a black cupric oxide coat. Let it cook for a half an hour, so the black coating will be thick. This
is important, since a thick coating will flake off nicely, while a thin coat will stay stuck to the copper.
After the half hour of cooking, turn off the burner. Leave the hot copper on the burner to cool slowly. If you cool it too quickly, the black oxide will stay stuck to the copper.

Step 4: Prepare the cooked copper

When the copper has cooled to room temperature (this takes about 20 minutes), most of the black oxide will be gone. A light scrubbing with your hands under running
water will remove most of the small bits. Resist the temptation to remove all of the black spots by hard scrubbing or by flexing the soft copper. This might damage the
delicate red cuprous oxide layer we need to make to solar cell work.
When you are finished cleaning the copper should be as in the photo

Step 5: Assemble the cell

Cut another sheet of copper ,
Solder a wire to each copper plate
glue to insulate the soldering
glue the plate as in photo

http://www.instructables.com/id/My-home-made-solar-cell-1/

Step 6: Fill and seal the cell

seal the cell and fill it with a solution of baking soda (or cooking salt) and water

http://www.instructables.com/id/My-home-made-solar-cell-1/

Step 7: Test the cell

test the cell whit Sunlight
A note about power
my cell produces 58 microamps at 0.10 volts.
Don't expect to light light bulbs or charge batteries with this device. It can be used as a light detector or light meter, but it would take acres of them to power your house.

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Comments
50 comments Add Comment

view all 138 comments

Ivraine says:

Aug 26, 2010. 5:09 AM REPLY

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 says:

Aug 12, 2010. 5:52 AM REPLY

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 says:

Aug 11, 2010. 6:50 PM REPLY

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

natester632 says:

Aug 11, 2010. 6:43 PM REPLY

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

Jaif14 says:

Jan 3, 2010. 4:02 PM REPLY

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

natester632 says:

Aug 11, 2010. 6:18 PM REPLY

Put it in a pan

alessiof76 says:

Jan 4, 2010. 1:36 AM REPLY

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

ki-rou says:

Aug 11, 2010. 6:11 AM REPLY

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 says:

Jul 10, 2010. 7:14 AM REPLY

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

alessiof76 says:

Jul 10, 2010. 8:48 AM REPLY

no, cook only one plate

100389 says:

Jul 11, 2010. 9:22 PM REPLY

thank you

JerinROX says:

Jul 8, 2010. 10:40 AM REPLY

can you please explain me how does it work.

alessiof76 says:

Jul 10, 2010. 4:52 AM REPLY

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 says:

Jul 10, 2010. 8:55 PM REPLY

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

http://www.instructables.com/id/My-home-made-solar-cell-1/

JerinROX says:

Jul 10, 2010. 8:54 PM REPLY

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

JerinROX says:

Jun 7, 2010. 11:04 PM REPLY

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

alessiof76 says:

Jul 10, 2010. 8:44 AM REPLY

yes if you cook it

JerinROX says:

Jul 8, 2010. 10:39 AM REPLY

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

alessiof76 says:

Jul 10, 2010. 4:50 AM REPLY

i cook the copper to obtain the correct oxidation

rensatoshi says:

Jul 5, 2010. 2:32 PM REPLY

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 says:

Jul 5, 2010. 10:54 PM REPLY

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

strmrnnr says:

Jul 14, 2009. 6:42 AM REPLY

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 says:

Jul 15, 2009. 11:38 AM REPLY

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

strmrnnr says:

Jul 15, 2009. 7:41 PM REPLY

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

gapl says:

Jul 5, 2010. 2:48 AM REPLY

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

alessiof76 says:

Jul 16, 2009. 11:32 AM REPLY

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

http://www.instructables.com/id/My-home-made-solar-cell-1/

Fantasma25 says:

May 31, 2010. 3:35 PM REPLY

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 says:

May 10, 2010. 11:04 PM REPLY

should we fill the CD cover with the solution??

alessiof76 says:

May 12, 2010. 12:21 PM REPLY

leave an air bubble inside

JerinROX says:

May 10, 2010. 11:02 PM REPLY

Hey Can u plz teel me what size this should this solar pannel should be to light a bulb or to run a R/C car. Thank you....

alessiof76 says:

May 12, 2010. 12:19 PM REPLY

may be 10 square meters? ;^) too much!

the state of the art is about theorical 20W m^2 for laboratory cell
sorry for my english
Ciao
Alessio

clemjon says:

Feb 28, 2010. 10:37 AM REPLY

can i use it as a substitute in solar panel?..if so, how? if not, can you please advice some?

alessiof76 says:

Feb 28, 2010. 1:03 PM REPLY

not if it built in that way. University of Trento (itali) built that cell by electrodepositio : 4% of efficiency but is only a prototipe

forgive my bad english

Ciao
Alessio

emerx says:

Feb 6, 2010. 11:39 PM REPLY

I cooked the copper on a gas stove for only about 30 sec. (till it turn black), washed it right away and the device still worked as expected. I filled it with salted
tap water. Under 40w bulb, it gave me 0.15v max when exposed open and the average 0.10v when closed. One more thing I discovered: The cell kept
recharged meaning, it kept a constant flow of 0.5v when it was detached from light source. Amazing!

alessiof76 says:

Feb 28, 2010. 1:00 PM REPLY

good

isratasibuea says:

Jan 26, 2010. 8:10 PM REPLY

why you dont use for un cooked choper use almunium don't chopper I thing is beter thand chopper

alessiof76 says:

Feb 28, 2010. 12:56 PM REPLY

aluminum oxide has no photovoltaic properties for sola light

maniqoe says:

Jan 10, 2010. 9:31 AM REPLY

so would a electic stove work

tbone121 says:

Jan 3, 2010. 4:56 PM REPLY

could you use a heavy gauge copper wire for this.

alessiof76 says:
I think you can, but do not know if it comes off the oxide

http://www.instructables.com/id/My-home-made-solar-cell-1/

Jan 4, 2010. 1:39 AM REPLY

stephenniall says:

Dec 31, 2009. 1:13 PM REPLY

you have the polarity wrong on your voltmeter

Arjun Bhat says:

Dec 30, 2009. 10:01 AM REPLY

I Love it !!!!!

phmanzano says:

Dec 4, 2009. 4:10 AM REPLY

Hi Alesio,
There is a Grtzel cell project based on chlorophyl you might be interested to join, see www.togethearth.com

LordOlimar says:

Aug 27, 2009. 8:52 AM REPLY

This may be obvious to others, but how do you determine which wire is the + charge and which is the - charge?

alessiof76 says:

Aug 27, 2009. 11:30 AM REPLY

copper plate is + , copper oxide is -

HADJISTYLLIS says:

Aug 24, 2009. 5:46 AM REPLY

if you build a really big one like 2mx2m could give more voltage enough giving 12v for battery?

alessiof76 says:

Aug 24, 2009. 12:33 PM REPLY

The voltage remains the same, you should connect many cells in series to obtain 12 V

gd_illeperuma says:

Jul 15, 2009. 8:25 AM REPLY

Hi, can you please tell me the voltage this produces. Is it in mV 'scale? Mmm How about the current it producess per square centimeter ?

alessiof76 says:

Jul 15, 2009. 11:36 AM REPLY

the scale is in mV, this is just a test home-made cell produces some uW, perhaps the same cell made in the laboratory would produce more power ...

gd_illeperuma says:
Thanks buddy!

view all 138 comments

http://www.instructables.com/id/My-home-made-solar-cell-1/

Jul 27, 2009. 9:45 AM REPLY