Solar energy is the fastest growing alternative energy in the world. Making real solar cells requires some skill and patience, but even a beginner can apply the same principles to making small solar cells. There is a great way to learn about the characteristics of solar cells. You just need a little titanium dioxide, build a cell, and use the cell to convert light into electric current.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Getting Titanium Dioxide
Step 1. Collect powdered sugar for the donuts
Buy a bag of donuts with white powdered sugar. The powdered sugar contains a chemical called titanium dioxide. (TiO2). Titanium dioxide is a useful material for making solar cells.
Step 2. Dissolve the sugar
Unfortunately the titanium dioxide from powdered sugar donuts is not pure. The substance is mixed with sugar and fat. To remove the sugar, stir the ground powder in warm water and then pour it through a sieve (preferably a coffee filter). The sugar will dissolve in the water and pass through the filter. The solid remaining on the filter is a mixture of titanium dioxide and fat.
Use a cup of warm water for every five donuts
Step 3. Remove the fat
Fat is not soluble in water so titanium dioxide still mixes with fat after filtering. Luckily it's not that hard to get rid of the fat. Place the powder in a safe cup or container and heat it to 500o Celsius for three hours. Heating will evaporate the fat and leave titanium dioxide powder.
Part 2 of 3: Making Solar Cells
Step 1. Use conductive glass
Most conductive glass is coated with a residue of indium tin oxide. The coating allows the glass surface to conduct electricity, not be an insulator. You can buy conductive glass online or at a solar cell store.
Usually this glass measures 2.5 x 2.5 cm
Step 2. Make a titanium dioxide solution
Add the ethanol to the titanium dioxide solution in a beaker and stir. The ethanol used should be as pure as possible. Best is 200 proof pure ethanol, but Vodka or Everclear can still be used if there are no other options.
Use approximately one milliliter of ethanol per donut and shake or stir the solution in a beaker or beaker
Step 3. Coat the glass
Attach adhesive tape around three sides of the glass. The adhesive will help you control the depth of the coating. Use a pipette or similar dropper to drop a small amount of the titanium dioxide solution onto the glass surface. Use a microscope slide to remove excess solution on the surface, leaving only a thin layer. Repeat this process ten times.
Each drop is enough for one time to coat the glass with a thin layer. In all, you will use ten drops to form a layer of titanium dioxide
Step 4. Heat the solar cell
Place the solar cells in a clear, heat-resistant beaker or beaker. Place the container on the electric stove (or place the solar cells directly on the electric stove). Turn on the electric stove and heat the cell for 10-20 minutes.
You have to keep a close eye on the cell. The cell will turn brown, then white again. If the color of the cell returns to its original white color, it means that the organic solution (ethanol) has been burned and the heating of the cell is complete
Step 5. Coat the solar cell with tea
Tea contains organic compounds called anthocyanins. It is a compound that is good at capturing light in the visible spectrum. Heat a cup of herbal tea and soak the solar cells for a few hours. Darker teas, such as hibiscus, are best. The cells will be stained with tea and anthocyanins will stick to the cell surface. Now the solar cell is ready to capture visible light.
Prior to smearing, cells could only perceive light in the ultraviolet spectrum
Part 3 of 3: Generating Electric Current
Step 1. Paint another piece of conductive glass with graphite
This piece of glass will serve as a counter electrode. You can use graphite on a regular pencil. Just run the tip of the pencil across the surface of the glass until it's completely covered with the graphite residue.
Step 2. Place the space between the pieces of glass
You can cut thin plastic as a space between the pieces of glass. The chamber is placed on the clean side of the glass (behind the tea or graphite side). Alternatively you can apply adhesive tape around the edge of the clean side of the glass to form a space. This spacer will separate the glass a bit.
Step 3. Add the electrode solution
Iodine solution is an ideal electrolyte. You can get it at most pharmacies. Mix with alcohol in a ratio of 3:1. Drop one to two drops of the solution between the two pieces of glass.
Step 4. Press the pieces of glass together
Before the solution has time to evaporate, press the two pieces of glass firmly together. Use alligator clips to clamp it. Now solar cells can generate electric current when exposed to light.
