Make a Solar Cell - TiO2/Raspberry based

In this video we show how to make a dye sensitized solar cell based on titanium dioxide and anthocyanin found in raspberries.

First get some titanium dioxide (anatase structure), about 0.5g will do. Then mix it with drops of vinegar until it has the consistency of thin paint or liquid corrector fluid. Add a drop of dishwashing detergent. This is to make it stick to the glass.

Now get a piece of indium tin oxide glass. The indium tin oxide glass was purchased from delta technologies http://www.delta-technologies.com/

using a multimeter set to measure resistance, find the conductive side by measuring the resistance of the glass. The side that's conductive will have a much lower resistance than the non-conductive side.

Tape the glass on three sides onto a flat surface, conductive side up. there should be able 5mm of tape on each edge. The tape will serve as a spacer guide for the titanium dioxide.

Now using a glass rod, apply the titanium dioxide paint to the conductive of the indium tin oxide glass. Slide the rod across the tape so that it smears the paint evenly and smoothly across the glass. If the paint leaves streaks, you need to add more vinegar and try again. It should go on with a smooth coat.

Now let the slide dry on air. Then carefully peel off the tape and get the slide. Use a damp cloth to clean off any excess titanium dioxide that might have oozed around behind the slide or off the edges.

Place the slide, conductive side up, on a hot-plate and heat to 200+ celsius (preferably 550 celsius). The detergent and the vinegar will burn away and bake together the particles of titanium dioxide so that they stick to the glass. At first it will turn yellow and then turn light again as this happens. The whole process takes about 20 minutes.

As that happens, get some fresh raspberries (juice made from artificial flavoring cannot be used) and crush them.

Now get the cooled titanium dioxide slide and pour a few drops of the raspberry juice onto it. Be careful not to damage the titanium dioxide. Let it sit for a few minutes so the anthocyanin dyes absorb into the titanium dioxide.

Then carefully pour water and alcohol over the slide to wash away raspberry bits and other chemicals we don't need. Let the slide dry.

Take another indium tin oxide glass slide and pass the conductive side through a candle flame several times. This will build up a layer of soot that we need to catalyze the redox shuttle. Carefully wipe away the excess soot from the edges so that they match with the titanium dioxide from the slide.

Now we make the redox shuttle and electrolyte by mixing 127mg of iodine crystals with 830mg of potassium iodide and 10mL ethylene glycol. Mix thoroughly until completely dissolved.

Place a few drops of the redox shuttle and electrolyte onto the titanium dioxide and place over it the soot covered slide. The coated sides must be facing each other. Be sure to offset the slides so that you can access the conductive sides of both.

Bind the slides together using binder clips.

And that's done. the positive side is the soot covered slide, while the negative side is the titanium dioxide slide. Use alligator clips to contact the exposed sides.



The titanium dioxide (anatase type) and potassium iodide and iodine were purchased from Alfa Aesar. http://www.alfa.com

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• solar
• cell
• energy
• photovoltaics
• geen
• power
• free
• electricity
• sunlight
• chemistry
• titanium
• dioxide
• anthocyanin

[LOPEZdJUNGLIST]

where the fuck am i meant to get that shit? may as well buy a pv panel

[NurdRage]

@LOPEZdJUNGLIST I think you missed the very beginning where i said the objective is to explore the science. Do you honestly go to engineering schools and yell at them for teaching how to build cars when they "may as well buy a" car?

[JPortfolio]

NurdRage How long do you think one of these solar cells could be working?

[NurdRage]

@JPortfolio About one week

[elflordbob1]

7:53

i highly doght that

it will be you



[NurdRage]

@elflordbob1 I agree, it won't be me, but it could be you.

[NurdRage]

@LOPEZdJUNGLIST People like dumb asses even less.

[DiomedesStrosMkai]

@TheMrHwarang Why the hell are you commenting on the day of the Massacre of Siamese Peasants of 1832? That's very offensive in my country, and I demand apology!

[DaringGirlProduction]

amazing. please let us know if you make any improvements@!

[StraightEdgeHippie]

Not to be a dick or anything, but I just found it funny how you showed us everything you needed to make a solar cell, then spent the last third of the video saying that everything we just used could be substituted for something better.

[Rick007191]

Excellent video....

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If you want to short this time to 1-2 Years

There is a website that explain how to Build your own Solar Panels

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Just go to Google and Search for...

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[MrSuednym]

Is TiO2 what normal Liquid Correcting Fluid made out of?

[TeenageIronman]

@TheMrHwarang fuck you asshole, he has the right

[TheMrHwarang]

the hell you posting something on 9/11 for?

[ScatteredParticles]

I'm about to spend my next two years investigating DSCs, and happened to remember an old NurdRage video about solar cells. Wouldn't you know it, it's the perfect introduction to the field! Thanks to your simple, experimental approach to chemistry, I have an excellent complement the information I find in my first articles. Many thanks from an long-standing fan! Keep up the good work!

[ThatDharmaGuy4]

cool video! Nurd Rage, its funny that you make such cool videos that are only commented by conspiracy theorists. LOL

[mustafamoussa]

@LOPEZdJUNGLIST

u better shut ur gob and get lost or watch what will happen