Ibpointless2 Crystal Cells

[triffid]

PC, none of my first cells worked due to using the wrong salt sub(NU-SALT).This salt sub had no fumaric acid in it.Now Morton salt sub does!
Maybe elmers school glue would work if the right salt sub was used.But wait!I do recall IB2 saying that the elmers school glue will not work and hes been using the right salt sub all along.So lets go with that and not use it anymore.Maybe normal table salt with added FUMARIC ACID  might work?I would have to get some pure fumaric acid powder from somewhere to experiment with.I have not used carbon yet in my experiments So I cant say anything about it.triffid

[ibpointless2]

@triffid


Its funny you mention radioactivity. I got the idea to use salt sub because it contain potassium which was radioactive, I was trying to make a beta battery and not a crystal cell. 









@Phi


If the cell is made correct the crystal glue cell will hold it voltage above 1.300 volts when it dries out but it will have little to no amps. If the cell is not made correctly it will loose voltage over time as it dries out. I some cells that are over 8 months hold and still hold above 1.300 volts and no water is ever added to them. So yes a crystal glue cell will maintain its voltage even when dry.

[ibpointless2]

PC, none of my first cells worked due to using the wrong salt sub(NU-SALT).This salt sub had no fumaric acid in it.Now Morton salt sub does!
Maybe elmers school glue would work if the right salt sub was used.But wait!I do recall IB2 saying that the elmers school glue will not work and hes been using the right salt sub all along.So lets go with that and not use it anymore.Maybe normal table salt with added FUMARIC ACID  might work?I would have to get some pure fumaric acid powder from somewhere to experiment with.I have not used carbon yet in my experiments So I cant say anything about it.triffid

no no no, normal table salt is bad. very bad! If any salt substitute contains sodium in it then don't use it, sodium is bad.  Morton's salt sub works the best. I have made cells using table salt and they don't work, when they dry out they loose all their voltage.


The only thing special about Elmer's glue is that it contains water. The water allows the salt substitute and Epsom salt to dissolve into a new salt. The new salt is what you want. I tell people to use Elmer's glue because once it dries it act like a barrier to keep water out.  You must do exact as i say if you want to make a crystal glue cell. Use Elmer's glue-all, morton's salt substitute, and Epsom salt. Insert magnesium ribbon and copper wire into it and allow to dry over night.

[triffid]

IB2,Maybe you can still make that beta cell? Using  Fiesta-Ware saucers getting 50,000 counts per minute?


PC, I have a problem with the cells that need mixing so I'm going towards a no mixing approach.
My tin can lid/mg cells required no mixing.Just one layer at a time.




Have a great day  triffid

[PhiChaser]

Thanks for the tips guys!
I got home tonight and measured my moist salt substitute aluminum carbon and was at about a volt. Pretty cool, then I decided to try and add some voltage via 6v batteries. Wow!!! Amazing you can add voltage to potassium chloride and water. Unfortunately, this makes chlorine gas right? My little plastic cup smelled like a swimming pool but I measured a bit over 2.75v which dropped steadily as I measured on the 20v scale. It goes down slower on the 2000m scale (due to cells discharging into the smaller resistors I'm guessing?).
Since Plengo is working on copper-magnesium batteries, I think I will start with carbon (which doesn't break down I think?) and aluminum because it is cheap and easily machineable, obtainable, whatever...
Epsom salt and potassium chloride (and fumeric acid?) seem the like main ingredients to work around (so far right?) for the electrolyte. What about adding a little borax? Alum? I'm thinking if you add carbon then you 'ground out' when using carbon for one of the electrodes. A LOT of combinations to try but it shouldn't take forever to figure out what is going to work better for a 'one mix' cell. I will try to start with around two dozen (20ish) and see where it goes, space/money/time permitting of course...

My experiments to be evaluated in identical multiple small plastic containers;
Each dated container will contain the same measured length of carbon and aluminum 'imbedded' into each 'mixture' and made accessable to alligator clips for measurements.
A measured portion of the aforementioned ingredients in different combinations will all be moistened with the same amout of water and allowed to 'dry'. (Measurements taken at the creation of the cell of course!)
One mix, measure lightly, repeat as necessary...
During the drying period I will take regular measurements (hopefully heh heh) of these test mixtures and record these measurements in a log.
After a certain time period (as yet to be determined) I will evaluate my results and persue the most logical 'recipe' direction(s). I may also try some other ingredients (as yet to be determined).
I think that degradation of the aluminum and outgassing will be the most important factors to look at (after voltage/amperage that is).
You get the idea. Not sure how much I will actually accomplish, but making small cells and connecting them in series with capacitors to hold the charge WORKS!!! That means you pay for it ONCE and then it is FREE!!!
Is there a limit to how small you can make a cell? Realistically, how many crystals (of what size?) are really needed to get the maximum voltage from each cell? If only one 'crystal' structure is needed per 'volt' (so-to-speak) then you could make a 'bed' of tiny cells and grow them!!!! WOOT!!! How cool would that be?!?
SOOOOO many questions (possibilities)!!
I also really like the idea of impregnating cardboard with different 'salts' and layering them with what amounts to garbage (tin can lids) triffid. That is really taking the term recycle to the next level. REALLY a mind-blowing thing (to me anyways!).
I will try out some of my better 'recipe' combinations with the Elmer's Glue All (great idea there BTW!) as well as some other epoxys etc. eventually... Nice to see immediate results from adding water, even if they lose power as they dry out. It rains a bit where I live, and the relative humidity doesn't ever get below 10% (maybe) so these kinds of batteries would work pretty well (I'm guessing anyways...).
Fun stuff! Science is neat!!! Gonna read a bit about 'loading' up these things. Pretty amazing...
Will share results here as this 'project' progresses.
PC
P.S. Any input regarding addition/improvement to my particular 'scientific method' is welcome, thanks!
P.P.S. Wow, I type way too much... Time to go do something productive heh heh...