Finally : cheap DIY selfmade solar cell with common materials !

[ResinRat2]

Thanks for your comments everyone.

Stefan, I went back and rechecked the unit, being careful this time not to touch the ends of the probes or contact the carbon black pigment or aluminum foil with anything other than the probes of the voltage-meter. It read zero volts. Even up close to the light, I still had no voltage reading, so what you suggested must have been correct. I had a false reading due to contact with probably moisture and my skin surface.

So the only light that might shake loose an electron from foil would be in the ultra-violet range.

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

I do like the idea of conductive glue though. Thanks Infringer, I will get some.

[hartiberlin]

Here is another good video how to make a dye sensitive solar cell
using blackberry juice and Titandioxid all  with a step by step explanation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17SsOKEN5dE

Now we only need to find a cheaper solution for the ITO conductive coated glas.

Regards, Stefan.

[hartiberlin]

Here is another good video showing it all step by step.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbsl1NP5uZI

This time vinegar is used for the TIO2 paste,
but it needs much more heating, so using nitric acid for the TIO2 paste is probably
much less energy expensive in the production process..

[Kator01]

Hi Resinrat2,

here are some good data and explanations :

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/Tables/photoelec.html
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/mod1.html#c3
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/mod1.html#c5

looks like workfuction equals first ionisation energy-level

Regards

kator01

[jeanna]

This guy has taken the PAL design 100 steps along.
It is still the same design but have a look. It is very clean... also green.
He seems to have a canadian accent.
I have not been to his website yet... I just came here first.
Please have a look.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=796_1256162545

jeanna

I just went there and here is a pic with price. It sounds like a lot, but in the Northeast USA where it is often bitter cold and sunny, it would pay for itself in a year or 2.