Step By Step: How to Make a Simple Solar Cell With 10 Items in 10 Steps

It’s easy to make a simple solar cell. A solar cell is the device that coverts energy from the sun into electricity; they are what comprises a solar panel.

You can use common household items found around your house or they can be purchased from a local hardware store. This project is small and produces around 50 Microamps at 0.25 volts. It’s a great starter project for the beginning solar panel enthusiast.

Here’s What You Need to Begin

1. One electric stove or a hotplate that produces at least 1100 Watts

2. One micro-ammeter that can read 10 and 50 Microampere currents

3. Sheet Metal Shears

4. Safety Goggles

5. Two Alligator Clip Leads

6. Hand Held Drill with Sand Paper

7. One Two Liter Wide Mouth Glass Jar or Plastic Bottle

8. 1/2 Foot Square Sheet of Copper Flashing

9. Two Tablespoons of Table Salt

10. Tap Water

Step 1: Ensure that the copper flashing is thoroughly cleaned removing any corrosion. Use the sand paper to thoroughly remove any debris.

Step 2: Cut the copper flashing with the sheet metal sheers to fit the size of the electric burner.

Step 3: Place the copper flashing onto the electric burner then turn the burner on. The copper must heat for at least 30 minutes in order to make a thick layer of black cupric oxide.

Step 4: Once the cupric oxide has formed allow the copper to slowly cool. The cupric oxide will flake, causing the copper to cool at variable rates.

Step 5: After the copper has cooled gently and completely scrub it under cool tap water to remove any remaining pieces of cupric oxide. Be careful not to scrub too hard, you don’t want any of the red cuprous oxide formed by heating the copper to be removed.

Step 6: From the remaining copper cut another square or rectangle piece the same size as the first.

Step 7: Using the alligator clips, attach the two pieces of copper to the inside of the glass jar. If you’re using a plastic bottle, cut the top off of the bottle and place the copper inside of it. The panels shouldn’t touch each other and should be able to bend to match the curves of the jar or bottle.

Step 8: Attach the lead of the alligator clip that fastens the copper plate to the positive terminal of the meter. The negative end of the clip should be attached to the cuprous oxide plate.

Step 9: Mix together salt and water, dissolving the salt in hot tap water. Make a small amount of this solution to just cover the bottom of the plates. Be certain to leave the clips high enough so they remain dry.

Step 10: Place your solar panel in direct sunlight. The gauge should jump to show the level of electric current the panel is producing.

Congratulations! You just created your very first solar cell. This little experiment won't hold the power you need to power your home, but you have the overall idea of how a solar panel is made.