The solar battery is a photocell, that is, a device that converts solar radiation into electricity. High-performance devices can be purchased in the online store, but if you are willing to sacrifice efficiency, then you can use improvised materials.
A do-it-yourself solar battery can be made from nitrous oxide, which will replace silicon. This material is one of the first used to produce the photoelectric effect. Let's take a look at what a battery needs to make: a copper sheet 150 * 150 millimeters, a pair of crocodile clips, a small multimeter or a sensitive ammeter, an
electric stove with a power of 1 kilowatt, a plastic bottle with a neck cut off, a few tablespoons of salt, sandpaper, water,
metal scissors.
So, the do-it- yourself solar battery is as follows. First you need to degrease your hands. Now you need to cut off a piece of copper plate, the side of which is equal to the diameter of the PETN tile. The surface of the plate should be cleaned of grease with a detergent. Sandpaper is required to thoroughly clean the surface of the plate to remove any corrosion from it. To make a solar battery with your own hands, you need to put a sheet of copper on the tile, and then turn it on at maximum power. When copper is heated, oxides in the form of various patterns will appear on it. Heated copper will turn black, but you must wait until it is gone, and then the oxidized surface is covered with various spots. When the ten becomes red hot, the last colored patches will disappear. After that, the copper will be coated with an even layer of copper oxide. Leave it to warm for half an hour, so that the coating becomes much thicker. After that, the tile can be turned off, and the plate should be left on it. Upon gradual cooling, the black oxide will gradually peel off. The do-it-yourself solar battery is made of copper oxide, hidden under a black layer, it has a red tint.
Now it remains to do the final manipulations. From another sheet of copper, it is required to cut approximately the same size piece. Both parts should be carefully bent so that they fit in a plastic bottle without contacting each other. The oxide coated sheet needs to be turned outward. The plates must be attached with crocodile contacts to the walls of the container. The wire from the clean plate should be connected to the positive terminal of your device. And the second wire is connected to the negative terminal. In a small amount of water, it is required to dissolve several tablespoons of salt, and then pour the composition into a container with plates so that it does not touch the contacts.
How does a solar battery work? Such a device functions both in direct sunlight and in the shade. The battery will not charge from this battery and the light will not light up; it is intended to demonstrate capabilities. In practice, other devices are used. Modern flexible solar panels are capable of generating power up to 300 watts per hour.