Home-brew solar cells

jake_stone2000

New Member

• Sep 25, 2005

• #1

Does anybody have information on the decades old method of making solar cells using thin copper plates and heating it up then connecting to both surcaces of the plate.

somewhere I read an article about it but cannot seem to recall where so I am asking what anyone has experienced with this method.

 

R

Russlk

New Member

• Sep 25, 2005

• #2

A copper oxide rectifier can be made but I am not aware of a way to make a solar cell.

 

Someone Electro

New Member

• Sep 25, 2005

• #3

Iv also seen that someware but it produces a max of 100nA at a few mV so you cant power anything whith it.

 

Roff

Well-Known Member

• Sep 26, 2005

• #4

Google "copper oxide photocell". The first hit is relevant.

 

pike

Member

• Oct 3, 2005

• #5

sounds more like a thermocouple to me...

 

Roff

Well-Known Member

• Oct 3, 2005

• #6

pike said:

sounds more like a thermocouple to me...

Click to expand...

What :?: :?: :?:

 

D

Dean Huster

Well-Known Member

• Oct 3, 2005

• #7

Lindsay Technical Publications ( http://www.lindsaybks.com/ ) used to sell a booklet on rolling your own (albiet inefficient) photovoltaic cells. Check out their web site. Their catalog is wonderful reading for experimenters and DIYers.

Dean

 

pike

Member

• Oct 4, 2005

• #8

Thermocouples generate electricity, but in the millivolts range. You would know probably use them to measure temperature. But yes they can generate electricity...very small amounts.

 

tikbalang

New Member

• Oct 5, 2005

• #9

there is one here:

https://www.scitoys.com/

 

Someone Electro

New Member

• Oct 5, 2005

• #10

Thats where i seen that homemade "solar cell"

 

M

Moneer81

New Member

• Jun 10, 2008

• #11

If you have a bookstore like B&N near by take a look at "Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius". Page 87 has a project that walks you through building an inefficient thin-film cell.