How to Make Solar Cells

Making Solar Cells - Energy DIY

To convert solar energy into electricity a device call a solar cell is required. The conversion process is called photovoltaic effect. The solar cell captures sunlight energy and converts it to electricity. Solar modules are made from a group of cells. Solar cells can be used to make many types of products; calculators, watches, fans, outdoor lights, water heaters, state working signs, and clocks. A French physicist A. E. Becquerel was introduced to the photovoltaic effect but in 1883 Charles Fritts constructed the first solar cell. He did this by applying a very thin layer of gold over the semiconductor selenium to form the junctions.

When you talk about making a solar cell first thing that comes to mind is that it would be too complicated to do it.

But really it is not that difficult as a matter of fact it is quiet easy. Some items that you will be required to construct your very own solar cell; piece of ¼ inch copper shaped in a square, nitric acid, silvering solution, coarse steel wool, and solder. You will also require an acetylene torch, lighter, soldering gun, and tin snip tools to work with. This method of making a solar cell will only require about twenty to thirty minutes.

The first thing that you will need to do is get the ¼ inch copper and your tin snips. The copper should already be square in shape. Take the tin snips and cut the copper into a circular shape but very importantly do not cut the last corner. Leave the last corner should be left as a square end. Once you do this clean the copper very thoroughly with nitric acid. Make sure that you clean both sides of the copper. Now it is time to fire up your propane torch.

Turn the propane on and fire the lighter to get the torch lit. You may need to adjust the torch flame because it can be very powerful and that is not required with this project. Heat the entire piece of copper making sure that it is red over its entire surface of one side. Do not heat the other side of the copper and be very careful not to touch it because it will be very hot. Allow the copper to stay heated for at least two minutes and forty seconds. By doing this two types of copper oxide will be formed on opposite side of the one that you heated up with the torch.

The two types of copper oxide are cupric oxide and cuprous oxide. The black crumbly material that was formed is the cupric oxide.

Now take the coarse steel wool and gently remove the cupric oxide from the copper. You don’t want to remove any more of the oxide that what is necessary. Once that is done you will see a pink color which is the cuprous oxide. You must be very careful not to cause damage to the cuprous oxide. Very important if the cuprous oxide is not shown throughout the entire back side of the copper you will have to repeat the process. But if the edges are not pink you can use your tin snips and remove the edges.

Now once you have accomplished that step then it is time to apply a transparent film cover of silvering solution on the cuprous oxide. You may need to apply it more than once to accomplish that. The next step is to get the soldering gun and make sure that your batteries are charged. Take a piece of soldering wire and solder it to the front side of the copper or the side that you did not heat up. Then take another piece of soldering wire and solder it to the side that you applied the silvering solution. Your solar cell is not complete. You will be required to take it outside and expose it to the sunlight. When you do this if you did the entire method correctly it will produce electricity.