How to Make Solar Cells
Obtain 2 equal-sized glass plates., Clean both surfaces of the plates with alcohol., Test the plate faces for conductivity., Apply transparent tape to the plates., Apply a solution of titanium dioxide to the plates., Remove the tape and separate the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Obtain 2 equal-sized glass plates.
Plates of the size used as covers for microscope slides would be ideal. -
Step 2: Clean both surfaces of the plates with alcohol.
Once the plates are cleaned, handle them only by the edges. , Do this by touching the surfaces with the leads from a multimeter.
Once you have established which side of each plate is the conductive side, place them side by side, one plate conductive side up and the other conductive side down. , This will hold the plates in place for the next step.
Place the tape along either of the long side of the plates to overlap 1 millimeter (1/25 inch) of the edges.
Place tape over the outer 4 to 5 millimeters (1/5 inch) of the conductive side up plate. , Put 2 drops on the conductive side up plate, then spread it evenly over the plate surface.
Allow the titanium dioxide to cover the conductive-side-down plate.
Before applying the titanium dioxide solution, you may first want to coat the plates with tin oxide. , Now you'll treat the 2 plates differently.
Place the conductive-side-up plate on an electric hot plate overnight to bake the titanium dioxide onto the plate.
Clean the titanium dioxide off the conductive-side-down plate and place it where it won't collect dirt. , The dye can be made from raspberry, blackberry or pomegranate juice or by brewing a tea from red hibiscus petals. ,, Do this while the titanium dioxide-coated plate is soaking. , Mark the side that doesn't conduct with a plus sign (+). , You can do this by going over the conductive side with a pencil or by applying a graphite lubricant.
Cover the entire surface. , Rinse it twice, first with de-ionized water and then with alcohol.
Blot dry after rinsing with a clean tissue. , The plates should be slightly offset, about 5 millimeters (1/5 inch).
Use binder clips on the long edges to hold them in place. , Let the solution soak through the plate coatings so they're covered completely.
You may want to open the binder clips and gently lift 1 of the plates up to allow the solution to spread over the entire surface.
The iodide solution will enable electrons to flow from the titanium-dioxide-coated plate to the carbon-coated plate when the cell is exposed to a light source.
Such a solution is called an electrolyte. ,,, This plate is the solar cell's negative electrode, or cathode. , This plate is the solar cell's positive electrode, or anode. (In a previous step, you marked it with a plus sign on its non-conductive side.) , In a school classroom, this can be done by laying the cell on top of the lens of an overhead projector.
In a home setting, another light source, such as a spotlight or the sun itself, can be substituted. , Do this both before and after the cell is exposed to light. -
Step 3: Test the plate faces for conductivity.
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Step 4: Apply transparent tape to the plates.
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Step 5: Apply a solution of titanium dioxide to the plates.
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Step 6: Remove the tape and separate the plates.
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Step 7: Prepare a shallow dish filled with dye.
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Step 8: Soak the titanium-dioxide-coated plate
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Step 9: coated side down
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Step 10: in the dye for 10 minutes.
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Step 11: Clean the other plate with alcohol.
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Step 12: Retest the cleaned plate to find its conductive side.
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Step 13: Apply a thin carbon coating to the conductive side of the cleaned plate.
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Step 14: Take the titanium-dioxide-coated plate out of the dye.
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Step 15: Place the carbon-coated plate onto the titanium-dioxide plate so the coatings touch.
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Step 16: Apply 2 drops of an iodide solution to the exposed coating.
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Step 17: Wipe excess solution off the exposed portions of the plates.
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Step 18: Attach an alligator clip to the exposed coated sections on either side of the solar cell.
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Step 19: Connect the black wire of the multimeter to the clip connected to the exposed titanium dioxide coating.
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Step 20: Connect the red wire of the multimeter to the clip connected to the exposed carbon coating.
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Step 21: Place the solar cell next to a light source
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Step 22: with the negative electrode facing the source.
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Step 23: Measure the current and voltage generated by the solar cell with the multimeter.
Detailed Guide
Plates of the size used as covers for microscope slides would be ideal.
Once the plates are cleaned, handle them only by the edges. , Do this by touching the surfaces with the leads from a multimeter.
Once you have established which side of each plate is the conductive side, place them side by side, one plate conductive side up and the other conductive side down. , This will hold the plates in place for the next step.
Place the tape along either of the long side of the plates to overlap 1 millimeter (1/25 inch) of the edges.
Place tape over the outer 4 to 5 millimeters (1/5 inch) of the conductive side up plate. , Put 2 drops on the conductive side up plate, then spread it evenly over the plate surface.
Allow the titanium dioxide to cover the conductive-side-down plate.
Before applying the titanium dioxide solution, you may first want to coat the plates with tin oxide. , Now you'll treat the 2 plates differently.
Place the conductive-side-up plate on an electric hot plate overnight to bake the titanium dioxide onto the plate.
Clean the titanium dioxide off the conductive-side-down plate and place it where it won't collect dirt. , The dye can be made from raspberry, blackberry or pomegranate juice or by brewing a tea from red hibiscus petals. ,, Do this while the titanium dioxide-coated plate is soaking. , Mark the side that doesn't conduct with a plus sign (+). , You can do this by going over the conductive side with a pencil or by applying a graphite lubricant.
Cover the entire surface. , Rinse it twice, first with de-ionized water and then with alcohol.
Blot dry after rinsing with a clean tissue. , The plates should be slightly offset, about 5 millimeters (1/5 inch).
Use binder clips on the long edges to hold them in place. , Let the solution soak through the plate coatings so they're covered completely.
You may want to open the binder clips and gently lift 1 of the plates up to allow the solution to spread over the entire surface.
The iodide solution will enable electrons to flow from the titanium-dioxide-coated plate to the carbon-coated plate when the cell is exposed to a light source.
Such a solution is called an electrolyte. ,,, This plate is the solar cell's negative electrode, or cathode. , This plate is the solar cell's positive electrode, or anode. (In a previous step, you marked it with a plus sign on its non-conductive side.) , In a school classroom, this can be done by laying the cell on top of the lens of an overhead projector.
In a home setting, another light source, such as a spotlight or the sun itself, can be substituted. , Do this both before and after the cell is exposed to light.
About the Author
Janice Ellis
Specializes in breaking down complex home improvement topics into simple steps.
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