Ibpointless2 Crystal Cells

[triffid]

I bought some some magnesium ribbon from these people.They have other electrodes of interest too.   http://shop.chemicalstore.com/navigation/detail.asp?id=MGFLAT  triffid

[Peanutbutter29]

Try to be quick,
20uA from H20, yes and any conductible ions (close enough).  20uA specifically is related to the rate of Electron flow, based on a non polarized (no gas) chemical reaction.  This how fast say, AlS04 is being reduced at, liberating free electrons.  Yup, by the potentials of the 2 metals!  Just fine

For the ingredients being solid, yes there still HAS to be, eventually an accumulation on the plate. As long as there is conduction of the potential from ions, it will attempt reduction on the Al.  This is only in  open state, in a closed "in use" situation you are then oxidizing that AlSO4.  I would imagine the "Drier" you get this;  the less total ion conduction and lower participating SO4 ions e.g.- less current.  (look again at making one charged from the start, as you'll see more current even in drier cases)

For durhams, ya it is NOT involved.  Simply here, Ca is the strongest Cation and SO4 is the strongest anion.  So they stay bonded (do not react). 

Pyramids, yes *coughs* sodium sulfate.  Found out that's what the pyramids are in the pics.  One could also use the same formula above to now use Mg and C.  Same basic reaction as listed, but better potential V and ma. .....also square pyramid crystals. 

For any electrodes, correct. when you connect, current reverses from potential of open circuit.  Now a galvanic chemical action and ion flow attempts to oxidize the Al instead of reduce on it (as with open terminals).  With a super dry mix, or poor ion conduction, you could use multiple electrodes to get a more "full" participation from the medium.

Last, no worries on explanations, The chemical reaction is quite complex for so few things involved, lol.  For a hutchinson type cell, (assuming Pyrite, galena, sodium silicate, epsom and h20) that would easily be 6 times the length of what's shown!

With looking up Zamboni and Duluc (sp) even with inner and outer molten sulfur coating AND wax AND varnish;  they stated you still had moisture into cells from the atmosphere!?  Zamboni has the world record for longest running device (100+ years) and noted if he ever had moisture in his cells they died within a few months.  So, it would seem hard to eliminate h20 completely, but does show you can limit it a lot, heh.  Also any hydrates, when reacted will loose / release water;  thus adding it to the system. 

thanks

[PhiChaser]

Thanks for that PB, sorry to keep you from your projects. Lots of stuff to think about. (I was referring to THE pyramids, not your picture, although those were really cool!).
I thought maybe the gypsum helped the epsom salts line up better or something...
I'm about out of useful supplies, even scrounging up stuff from dead cells. So I will wait and see what sort of results I get with some of my cells in the weeks/months to come.
I 'baked' three cells tonight at 170degrees for about an hour. After they cooled down there wasn't any noticeable difference in the readings I took from uncooked cells. They did get a whitish color on the outside, I'm guessing calcium? It doesn't appear to be soluable... Two of the cells blew some water out of the bottom. I had the oven on it's lowest setting...
Still trying to load a cell over 2.8volts... Doesn't want to cooperate using 5.5 volts in parallel so far...
The ability to hold and carry a charge is more important than the creation/pre-load readings, but they are most likely directly related right? I guess I wait and see... And try a few things. Will update when I figure some things out... Good luck all!

Happy experimenting,
PC

[triffid]

I bought some more aluminum wire today from home depot.And got hold of another egg carton.I will use twice the(two strips) magnesium for this next six cells to have one strip act as a sacrificial electrode.

[triffid]

PB,you do seem to turn your homework in better than others.Now you figured that iron pyrite makes sulfuric acid.Which normally we do not want but you posted a cell that gets 5-10 amps by using sulfuric acid.


So if we could use a buffer for sulfuric acid??? Like sodium sulfate?
Sodium sulfate is a neutral salt, which forms aqueous solutions with pH of 7. The neutrality of such solutions reflects the fact that sulfate is derived, formally, from the strong acid sulfuric acid. Furthermore, the Na+ ion, with only a single positive charge, only weakly polarizes its water ligands. Sodium sulfate reacts with sulfuric acid to give the acid salt sodium bisulfate .Na2SO4 + H2SO4 ⇌ 2 NaHSO4. The equilibrium constant for this process depends on concentration and temperature.