| Today, green energy is a hot topic, and more and | | | | copper underneath. |
| more people are looking for ways to make a | | | | 3. Once this is completed, you will need to expose |
| difference to the way we treat our planet. | | | | the copper to a heat treatment to form an oxide |
| Homemade solar panels are not only a wonderful | | | | coating. I know what you're thinking, but it's not as |
| way to create clean energy for your home, but they | | | | stupid as it sounds, because the layer you will add is |
| are also an investment that could enable you to earn | | | | different from the one you have removed. The |
| money from the excess energy your panels produce. | | | | oxide layer that you will now be placing on the |
| However, if you want to make your very own solar | | | | copper is a cuprous oxide. So, place the copper over |
| panels, you will need to construct some homemade | | | | the highest temperature of your burner. In time, a |
| solar cells. | | | | black crust will begin to form on the copper. Once |
| So, how do you go about making your very own | | | | one side has been treated, leave the copper to cool. |
| solar cell? Well, first, there are some items that you | | | | If you have nitric acid, this can be used to remove |
| will need: | | | | the black layer of oxide. If not, tap the copper plate |
| - Copper sheeting | | | | on a hard surface to remove the loose debris then |
| - Copper wire | | | | rub it with your fingers. |
| - Thin wood strips | | | | 4. Now, you will need to construct a spacer with |
| - Duct tape | | | | your pieces of thin wood. Use the duct tape to |
| - Clear plastic sheeting (Plexiglass, Perspex or Acrylic) | | | | fasten the wood together, as nails could effect the |
| - An electric hob ring | | | | components of the cell. |
| - Salt water | | | | 5. Take a piece of Perspex and stick your electrode |
| - Emery cloth/Sand paper | | | | wire (copper wire) to it. It is best to use a thick wire |
| - A metal guillotine (not essential) | | | | and you may want to place it in a zigzag form, as |
| - A bandsaw | | | | this allows you to see what's going on. However, you |
| | | | want to block as little sunlight as possible. |
| 1. If you are able to get hold of a metal guillotine, use | | | | 6. Place duct tape on one side of the copper plate |
| it to cut a 6 to 8 inch square from the copper | | | | and fasten the Perspex front module to the plate. |
| sheeting. A guillotine is the easiest method of doing | | | | Obviously, the bright red oxidized side of the copper |
| this, but tin snips will work adequately, too. | | | | should face the Perspex. Then, seal the whole cell |
| 2. Next, wash and dry your hands thoroughly. It is | | | | with duct tape to prevent leakage, but leave a small |
| crucial that there is no grease on your hands or on | | | | opening to add water. |
| the copper sheet. So, take a cloth and remove and | | | | 7. Finally, add salt water to the space between the |
| dirt, debris or grease from the copper. Then, take a | | | | Perspex and the copper and seal the cell completely. |
| piece of emery and rub the copper down on both | | | | Then, all you need to do is to connect your |
| sides. When you have finished, the layer of oxidized | | | | homemade solar cell to a multimeter and let the sun |
| copper should be gone, leaving you with bright red | | | | do its thing. |