Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi! I'm from the Philippines we don't have any middle school here but I'm 13 and I need help on how to make a solar cell/panel. My partner said that a kid made a solar panel out of compact discs so we got interested and thought if we could expand the project further. I just need some materials and procedures on how to make a simple solar panel. And with it can you advice some things common that can be used as conductors for the project? Hope someone can help. We only have one month till the science fair.

Hi,

Here are some instructions on how to make a working solar cell:

http://voh.chem.ucla.edu/classes/Solar_ ... _Solar.pdf

http://www.solideas.com/solrcell/coatglas.html

And the journal article on which the above instructions are based:

http://www.solideas.com/papers/JCE98.pdf

And a paper explaining the theory of how the above cell worksL

http://www.solideas.com/papers/JPhysChemB.pdf

And a general public level explanation of the photocell:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 143743.htm




Here is a set of instructions with photos showing how to build a copper oxide solar cell:

http://scitoys.com/scitoys/scitoys/eche ... #solarcell

Of possible interest is this set of instructions on assembling solar panels from discarded/broken commercial solar cells:

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... ar-Panels/

You might also be interested in this project from Science Buddies which is slightly related to your question:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ?from=Home

I hope this helps you answer your question. The project sounds like fun!

Best Regards,

Barrett Tomlinson

Hi loonygirl1395,

Just for completeness, here is and alternate way to build a solar cell:
http://scitoys.com/scitoys/scitoys/echem/echem2.html

I don't know if the above is more practical than the one suggested by barretttomlinson, and it will certainly involve parental supervision (since an electric stove is used). I bring it up only as an alternative if a copper sheet is more readily available to you than TiO2.

Thanks a lot for your help

Have a nice day!!!

Hi!!

This topic is a continuation of the past topic i had...

My partner found an internet article about a boy who made a solar panel out of a bunch of compact disks.. our objective is to expand and find out other things that can be used for this project...

Now during our defense the teacher asked what is in the compact disc that is similar to the silicon used in the solar cell... and we were totally blank about the question...

So can anybody help us with this tiny hole in our problem???

Please and thank you!!

loonygirl1395

loonygirl1395,

Just so you know, we ask that you keep all questions pertaining to your project on a single topic. This means that when you have another question about your project, you should post it on the original message topic. This helps the Experts keep up on your project and be better able to help you. I have merged this topic with your other topic. The two will now appear as one.

Another Expert will answer the questions you raised in your post.

Good luck on your project!

Please provide the URL you found for the use of CD's in solar panels so we can review how they were used.

Off the top of my head, the only thing that immediately came to mind in how they might be used was as mirrors to concentrate light/heat onto the actual energy conversion piece of the solar cell. I'm sure that I've probably not thought of all the creative ways to make a solar cell so please point us at the article.
-Craig

loonygirl1395 wrote:My partner found an internet article about a boy who made a solar panel out of a bunch of compact disks.

Like Craig_Bridge, I'd appreciate it if you could please post the URL of the internet article. I've done some searching and was unable to find it. Needless to say, this bugs me no end.

Thanks.