How to Build a Solar Cell for Power
- 1). Wash your hands thoroughly, to remove surface grease that will prevent the copper reacting correctly when heated. Clean first copper sheet and scrub the oxide layer off both sides. This will allow the sheet to react properly when heated, to form a photo-conducting layer. Heat the copper on the electric stove until it turns black all over. Do not use a gas stove as this will introduce chemicals that reduce the sheet's solar efficiency.
- 2
When oxidised correctly, copper is an excellent photoconductor.copper river image by Steve Mann from Fotolia.com
Let the sheet cool and then tap off the majority of the black coating. This will reveal the photo-conducting cuprous oxide layer that formed underneath. Running the sheet under water to remove the rest of the black coating is okay but do not scour it or the oxide layer will be damaged. Sand down one corner of the sheet to remove the oxide layer. Solder a wire to this corner to form the negative terminal. - 3). Cut the second copper sheet so it forms a 'U' shape almost large enough to encompass the first sheet; to maximize the visible area on the negative terminal. Solder a wire to this sheet to form the positive terminal. Glue this terminal to the first Perspex sheet or other type of acrylic sheet. Do not cover the entire "U" in glue, or the cell will not function but do coat the soldered connection, to protect it.
- 4). Glue the negative terminal to the second Perspex sheet. Use as little glue as possible, as the efficiency of the cell requires the most visible surface area on the negative terminal. Again, be sure to coat the connection in glue to protect it. Wait for the glue to dry.
- 5). Outline one sheet in a thick layer of glue and stick the sheets together. Make sure the copper sheets do not touch. A generous amount of silicon glue should prevent this but if you'd prefer to be on the safe side, thin Perspex strips can be glued down the sides of one strip to act as a bracer.
- 6
The salt water contains ions that allow the electrons to flow from the copper.fleur de sel, white sea salt crystal, white background image by Oliver Mohr from Fotolia.com
Seal three of the edges of the cell with glue, then leave it to set. Dissolve the salt in water and carefully fill the cell with the solution. Seal the last edge of the cell shut and leave it to set. You have now built a solar power cell. The cell will produce a small amount of energy when placed in sunlight; and sometimes also in the shade.
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