Crystal Cell Research for Experimenter

[tgraca]

It looks like the best performing cell I have so far is #354 - the heavy mush mix...

12 parts activated carbon
6 parts Epsom salt
2 parts hydrate #5
2 parts MnO2
1 parts borax

I will charge it this time prior to sealing it. I am working on a way to charge 4 consistently with voltage and amperage with various lengths of time to test HOW the charging affects the longevity of the cells. In the mean time, I am working on a JT for some new LED's, which vary in color and mA draw per color. I spent some time today on this JT circuit, but had only a little success. It may take some time, but I like these RGB slow changing LED's and want  them to run on these crystal batteries!

[tgraca]

I know that to replicate a few things must happen. One is the red/black oxide over the Copper. Another is the black oxide over the Mg and it must solidify.

I would like to determine what the black formation over the mag strip is in my corrosion experiment with borax. Do you think that is black oxide? It turns gray when dried and shows ZERO connectivity when testing with a 1K ohm tester. It took less than a day to form on the mag strip. I wonder if a quick wash with a borax/water solution on the copper and mag strips would accomplish the same thing... I don't want to expend too much energy on a small cell, which would make these cells nonviable.

A little charging at low amperage to form the crystals makes sense, but the amount of energy necessary to form that black oxide layer on the copper makes it nonviable in my opinion. Also, that process results in a variable outcome and could only be replicated consistently and efficiently in a lab with 10's of thousands of dollars worth of equipment... or much more...

I have checked into the cost of owning and operating machines to make transistors and capacitors... it would cost close to a million dollars to buy and house either (not both), plus there would be costs associated with materials and labor... this is not for me... it's not good to create a process that is not easily replicatable, even at the cost of output. If someone can create a battery and circuit for a nightlight that runs for a month or more (for instance) for less than $1 and rebuild the battery for a few cents, or water just the battery, then that would be, in my opinion, a viable nightlight project for people (like me) that like to make their own toys! lol

So, I will push toward this goal. I don't mind passing a little voltage through the battery, but you saw the 47 minute mess I made with the soup mix (#344)... that's not going to work for me... maybe a short charge or a simple coating of chemicals to get the same effect.

NOTE: you can buy black oxide online and maybe just mixing it with some borax and a quick rinse on the copper would accomplish the same thing. If this works, we have no use of energy to get the same effect. Have you tried this? I would rather limit my viability calculations to just cost of materials instead of adding energy usage and joule math into the calculations... if possible.

[tgraca]

I would like to determine what the black formation over the mag strip is in my corrosion experiment with borax. Do you think that is black oxide?

From wikipedia: Black oxide for copper, sometimes known by the trade name Ebonol C, converts the copper surface to cupric oxide. For the process to work the surface has to have at least 65% copper; for copper surfaces that have less than 90% copper it must first be pretreated with an activating treatment. The finished coating is chemically stable and very adherent.

So, here is a non-electric and non-heating process to accomplish the same thing with just a chemical coating...

I found another company makes something like ebonol C. Durablack Liquid and Durablack Pre-Dip
see: http://heatbath.com/metal-finishing-products/black-oxide-finishing/black-oxide-for-non-ferrous-metals/
Heatbath Corporation (*USA) T (413) 452-2000

Anyone can also buy cupric oxide powder for about $10/lb. on ebay.

[tgraca]

Alternative to Ebonol C and Durablack Liquid

Oxidizing (blackening, coloring) of a copper workpiece is commonly carried out by immersion of the part into a heated alkaline solution containing an oxidizing compound (e.g. sodium chlorite). ref. http://www.substech.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=black_copper_oxide_coating

NOTE: borax (boron) "In its most familiar compounds, boron has the formal oxidation state III. These include oxides, sulfides, nitrides, and halides." - ref. wikipedia... also, it says it is "mildly acidic"

[tgraca]

Oxidizing (blackening, coloring) of a copper workpiece is commonly carried out by immersion of the part into a heated alkaline solution containing an oxidizing compound (e.g. sodium chlorite). ref. http://www.substech.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=black_copper_oxide_coating

NOTE: borax (boron) "In its most familiar compounds, boron has the formal oxidation state III. These include oxides, sulfides, nitrides, and halides." - ref. wikipedia... also, it says it is "mildly acidic"

Here's a quick way to create heat inside a copper pipe and possibly form some copper oxide inside the tube. lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_X1CqK59ls