PV Gap

Raymond Said:

how does solar cell manufacturing process?

We Answered:

Most solar cells are grown on silicon disks in much the same way micro-circuit chips are grown. It is a very sophisticated process with many working parameters.

An alternative process involves building up thin layers through a printing process on a metallic substrate and sealing them with a thin film.

It is far too much information to discuss here.

For more information, run an internet search on "manufacture of photovoltaic cells."

Tim Said:

Do anybody knows how to manufacture the Photovoltic Cell to generate the Power from Solar Light?

We Answered:

There are many websites that will show you similar methods, but this one is the simplest. You will not get a very efficient solar cell, but you will get a proof of concept model. If you are looking for a cheap source of photovoltaic cells for actual power production I suggest you try a surplus website like this: http://www.surplustraders.net/a/0108.sht… I have even heard stories of people getting used solar cells from their local municipality. There are all kinds of solar powered devices used by the transportation department. These are replaced with some regularity so with a few (probably many) phone calls you could potentially get your hands on some of your city's leftovers. There is nothing stopping you from calling 100 cities asking for their surplus junk. I would be surprised if you got it for free, but I also doubt there is much in the way of a standardized market for these panels either.

At any rate, this is how you make a simple photovoltaic cell in your kitchen.

You will need:

* A small (2' x 1') sheet of copper flashing (available at your local hardware store)
* An electric stove (a propane torch may also be used)
* A large clear bottle
* Tap water
* Sandpaper (or steel wool)
* Sheet metal shears (also called "tin snips")
* Two alligator clip leads
* A micro-ammeter (available from Radio Shack or other electronics store)

Instructions: How to build a solar cell

1. Cut the piece of copper sheeting, so that it fits the stove burner. Clean it first, so that there is no corrosion or other materials. Use the sandpaper.

2. Heat the copper sheeting until it is red hot. This will create two kinds of copper oxide: cuprous oxide is the one you are interested in. It will be red or tinges of orange or pink. This will be found underneath the black cupric oxide (which is no use to us). These copper oxides will begin to form after only a few minutes, but let the copper 'fry' for up to half an hour, forming a fairly thick coat of cupric oxide.

3. Turn off the stove and let the copper flashing cool slowly. The copper will shrink as it cools, and some or most of the black cupric oxide will actually pop off. Remove the copper from the stove element, once it has cooled (after about 20 minutes).

4. Lightly clean or rub the copper flashing with the sandpaper, under running tap water if you wish. Remove the cupric oxide but be sure to not remove much of the cuprous oxide.

5. Cut another piece of copper about the same size as the first. Bend both pieces of copper and set them inside the jar or bottle, making sure they are not touching. Connect the two plates to the ammeter. Connect the plate with cuprous oxide to the negative terminal and the clean plate to the positive terminal. You now have a solar cell, with a charge being read on the micro-ammeter.

Test your panel

Take your solar cell out into the sunlight and watch the micro-ammeter jump. In shade, you will get very low micro-amperage, but in the sunlight, it should jump to 50 or higher.

Alternate method: use silvering to cover one side of the copper sheeting, after you have created a side with cuprous oxide. Instead of using alligator clips, solder a wire to each side of the panel, one on the oxidized side and the other on the silvered side.