Make a Solar Cell - TiO2/Raspberry based

[@ScatteredParticles]

I'm about to spend my next two years investigating DSCs, and happened to remember an old NurdRage video about solar cells. Wouldn't you know it, it's the perfect introduction to the field! Thanks to your simple, experimental approach to chemistry, I have an excellent complement the information I find in my first articles. Many thanks from an long-standing fan! Keep up the good work!

[@gh0stmast3r]

when i first saw this about a year or two ago it looked like it was impossibly hard and complex, now that i've been working on my own projects it doesn't seem to be so crazy anymore.

[@edmunddekock3279]

I am interested to hear about your project, what did you find that is a better electrolyte than the one used in this video, also what semi-conductor did you use?

[@gh0stmast3r]

Edmund De Kock, I never actually did this myself I got a fiancee and that honestly is more complicated than anything I've ever done.

[@mohammedkhan5344]

I seem to keep returning to this every year, it's about time I actually made it and started experimenting with it, it seriously sounds stimulating

[@NK-xd4fu]

@@gh0stmast3r Any updates? lol

[@PotionsMaster666]

When you used the raspberries I quickly checked if this video was uploaded on 1 April lol... But when you explained how it worked, everything became clear as a daylight .... I should've never known such thing is possible... Thnx man you're awesome

[@adanolivera4500]

honestly if schools could teach students with these examples in live testing then many students such as myself wouldnt have failed chemistry. i majored in physics but failed terribly in chemistry, my first year of high i never understood it and i dont know how guessing things would make me scrape and pass to move on to the second and third year of highschool, unfortunately in my forth year my luck ran out and i failed, it would have been fascinating to learn chemistry.i wish i can go back and learn it. that was a nice vid man,

[@downtroddendave860]

+Adan Olivera Blame the teacher(s) not the generalized 'schools'. You could also blame yourslef, if you so choose, but that may also be unfair.

[@fakiirification]

I agree, the education system is backwards on math and science. Practical applications should be taught first, followed by theory and formulas. When you see something work, it makes you curious how, and more receptive to the theory side. sitting students in a lecture hall for 6 months working formulas on paper is a complete waste, as no curiosity is generated, therefore the work seems like busywork with no point, and most students zone out.

[@JoseRamos-mq2yn]

I start my internship tomorrow,this what I’m going to make

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Very well done! Every time I stop by your channel your videos have become more professional. Where's the ad though? You're losing some money. I've been having trouble with obscenely long delays in video approval myself.

[@MrBradshawbenjamin]

This comment is a snapshot of a slice of youtube history, cool to see

[@thanukadananjaya7631]

i have carried a research in DSSC and i used normal float glass since we do not have conductive glass in my country, and after some more new improvements i was able to make a cell of 1V and 0.2 A it is not still as good as the commercial cell but it was a great improvement. i hope to continue this research during my college time as well. If this technology is developed we can solve the power crisis over night.

[@NurdRage]

@jadenjak the dye is not expended during use, it decays because it's raspberries... and raspberries go bad eventually. Just like a gas generator is not a battery, but it decays from rust eventually.

[@m4rv1n69m4rt14n]

I like science but I never found anyone passionate enough to teach science the way you do. Keep up the GREAT work :-) !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@NurdRage]

plastic is a bit more difficult since you can't heat it to the temperatures needed without melting/damaging the plastic. I reccomend going to with ITO glass. In the lab the TiO2 is coated with special surfactants and chemicals that operate better at lower temperatures with plastic. but those chemicals aren't easy to get. Also not all TiO2 is good for this. Anatase type TiO2 is the preferred form over the more common Rutile type.

[@NurdRage]

@mouzmaster The detergent helps to spread the TiO2. Normally the TiO2 paste just beads up since the glass is hydrophobic. The detergent makes the paste stick so you can spread a thin layer of it without it pulling itself together into beads. :)

[@dannyflint9840]

its 3.32am i learnt how to grow potatoes in buckets, harvest marajuana and make solar cells. i am unemployed

[@MedChemist1]

a bit more research and you sir may have a hydroponics farm ;)

[@PotionsMaster666]

@aud_io 😭 I feel you man, but life's just so fucking pain in the arse...

[@NurdRage]

it helps to suspend the particles so you can apply them to the surface without clumping. it burns away when the slide is sintered.

[@NurdRage]

@spikespeigel Don't have to, the potassium triiodide redox shuttle automatically reduces it with the electrons that come through the back/counter electrode. All laid out in the diagram (although i do acknowledged i went through it pretty quick).

[@dr4cula]

Man, every time I see your video, my mind is just blown that you can do so many things with just regular stuff and without spending thousands on various chemicals. Keep up the good work :)

[@NurdRage]

@blueduderanch I *wasn't* referring to that, i was referring to the cell built in the video. How is saying my raspberry solar cell having a short lifetime is incorrect?

[@DameAndThatGame]

I cant believe iv never watched this, amazing..

[@Quaker763]

I showed this to my entire class with my teacher watching and they liked it! Great video mate :D

[@FlorinTanasa]

Bravo. I try it to make this cell in three years ago. I got 0,525V. I used the glass for thermopane windows (the windows have an oxide layer on one side - I think is silver oxide) called Low-E For electrolit I used betadine. You can put a paper layer, in the middle, where one side has pencil fill - and this side, with pencil, is over smoked glass.

[@NurdRage]

The original poster asked it if was possible, not if it was practical. You don't need large scale production to test if something is possible. Most research on solar cells is done on samples just a few square centimeters in size. Well within the range of laboratory methods. So... Go for it :)

[@oudotcom]

Hi NurdRage, very well done. I hope this will get many more people interested to play with this stuff... The only thing that is very expensive is the ITO glas , but I think it is the PN layer of this ITO surface versus the TIO2 that actually converts the sunlight into electricity. Thus you might need to find a cheaper semiconductor than ITO coated glas that has about the same bandgap as ITO versus TiO2. Many thanks for this instruction how to build it. Regards, Stefan.

[@magicbuskey]

I really like how you're teaching regular people the theory just in case someone might have an epiphany that changes the world and furthers technology. :D

[@globalarte]

Thanks"Nurd"for loving humanity and sharing this.

[@NurdRage]

The tape would be too thick. but since this is for demonstration then you can do it, the resulting drop in conductivity and current isn't very much. But i find it not to be a big issue since the titanium dioxide is thick enough and strong enough to hold the glass apart on its own.

[@NurdRage]

@mads9621 i haven't tried it, but i don't see why not. (BTW a small terminology issue: the triodide is actually the redox shuttle, the ethylene glycol is the solvent)

[@NurdRage]

@Cickarn white paint usually also has lots of other components like binders, organic additives, solvents etc. thus the quality and reproducibility of the cell is not as good as if you made the paint yourself. But if you do find a particular paint that does work as well as pure paint you made yourself, let me know. :)

[@NurdRage]

@HandMadeFireworks They are aluminum, but have 2mg of platinum coating. its small, but for this reaction that's all you need.

[@Helmutlozzi]

Awesome vid, Nurdrage. Its incredible how "simple" a solar cell can be made.

[@NurdRage]

@jadenjak haven't seen them? a portable generator that uses gasoline, very popular in areas that have frequent blackouts.

[@NurdRage]

@xmAdmAx57 i'm not too worried, a more effective cell probably wouldn't use raspberries, and whatever dye they find, can probably be made in bulk artificially. I'm more worried if the new dye is toxic, or made of rare elements.

[@luishandal]

i gotta tell u man im dumb as a brick and know nothing of chemistry but i am wildy entertained by your videos

[@NurdRage]

@Nighthawkinlight Thanks, As for the Ad, its there. maybe you have an ad-blocker or you loaded it when the ad-server glitched.

[@63NY1]

your channel reminds me of how much i miss chemistry. Gunna take ap chem next year becuse of this channel. thanks.

[@L33tP1ckL]

Your presentations are wonderful! It's a real shame that they don't teach 'you' in schools opposed to the current methods found in your typical chemistry classes. I speculate if they did, comprehension and let's not forget fun, enjoyment and desire would markedly improve.

[@NurdRage]

@pratt123 yeah, scientists that publish papers on this actually call it "artificial photosynthesis". I suppose it is a simplified version as the objective is to generate electrons at the highest potential rather than copious amounts of ATP. A lot of the extra machinery can be done away with.

[@NurdRage]

@sbstransitbuses Vinegar, although after you already added in alot, you can add water too.

[@negrisio9821]

hermoso... que dedicacion y tiempo invertido en todos estos videos. He aprendido mucho. Thanks for the vids... still learning alot... Hope your channel is still available for my kids.

[@NurdRage]

@blueduderanch Those statements were in reference to the whole cell. i made no statement about cost or lifetime to the titanium dioxide.

[@NurdRage]

@blueduderanch yes, how is that incorrect? the raspberry dye becomes unusable after a few days.

[@luishandal]

i gotta tell u man im dumb as a beick and know nothing of chemistry but i am wildy entertained by your videos

[@NurdRage]

@loling53 a lot of it can be purchased from hardware stores, painting stores, and online. I get most of my more rare chemicals from alfa aesar.

[@NurdRage]

@johnyz656 it can be done, but i personally don't have the equipment to make it. Lower grade doped tin-oxide can be made at home, but the resistance is too high to be useful for a solar cell.

[@KnightMD]

I wish youtube was invented when I was a kid.... this sounds like the stuff Iwould have loved to do in the garage...

[@AyngelOfSimpathy]

I've never been very good at science, but it's so fascinating to watch your videos,they are also quite entertaining, you make science fun, I've never been able to find that in many other places, and it's kind of inspiring, but I am so accident prone I couldn't actually do any of this, but for you to show all the reactions and everything, it's awesome cause I can learn so much from you. thanks for posting so many interesting and awesome videos.

[@billriley7263]

I recently saw a video on another channel that shows how to reuse the indium-tin oxide from LCD screens. They also did it without the hot acid. The screen also has the optically perfect glass that you can reuse. Cutting out the biggest expense for this expirement. I will be trying this soon.

[@HandMadeFireworks]

My first reaction when you started crushing rasperrys I thought "You got to be kidding... I think he got the calendar wrong and thought it was April 1st..." -_- But hey, it actuallty worked! Great video as usual!

[@Afrotechmods]

You are awesome.

[@qurrotatechnology2073]

Hey sir i subscribe your channel too..

[@NurdRage]

@ginywiny I only made the weak version in the video, you can be the one that makes the powerful/cheap version that pwns silicon and makes BILLION$

[@NurdRage]

To be honest i don't know if beet juice would work. You can try as an experiment. Can you get blackberries? those work too.

[@NurdRage]

@jessiebm123 sulfuric acid would probably destroy the dye and eat through the electrodes. it was good thinking though.

[@proff327]

I love your videos! I'm a grad student now (inorganic) and I love to watch. Keep it up!

[@Praseodymium59]

I used to work to try and improve efficiency of thin film solar cells using silver nanoparticle arrays on back reflectors... very interesting field. I think a break through in thin film solar cells is imminent

[@blueduderanch]

@NurdRage well i cant say fully, but, when we treat the titania it produces excited radical electrons and positive holes withing the anatase structure. these electrons pass through the titania film, which after sintering becomes a glass, this is what carries the current. we have been using methylene blue to test and it works. it is especially effective to dope the titania with WO3 or nitrogen. when is said incorrect i was referring to the cost problem you stated.

[@NurdRage]

@Phantasm911 The soot catalyzes the reduction of triiodide back into iodide.

[@NurdRage]

@h0meIandsecurity unfortunately the other chemicals in corrector fluid make it difficult to adhere to the slide. Good try though.

[@Vydonis]

The way you end this video is inspiring. Try to look into Earth Batteries, Crystal Batteries and such. It could be a new video for you to make as well.

[@metallurgico]

it's exactly how i've done it at university lol, but i used black berries.. it's a really cool thing to do!

[@NurdRage]

@blueduderanch incorrect? how so? titanium dioxide doesn't work?

[@NurdRage]

@Stanilem relatively new compared to the existing technology.

[@Plystire]

I'm no expert on this, but I believe the entire point of using the ITO glass is so you have something that's both conductive and transparent. Conductive to allow the electrons to flow from the dyed TiO2, and obviously transparent so light can reach it. Unless you're referring to the ITO glass that had the carbon layer on it, in which case that was covered in the video. ;)

[@Deannified]

I never watch these because I actually want to do these experiments. I watch them because they are so damn cool and entertaining

[@Humphihzly]

He was basically right at the end. This is how we got perovskite solar cells, but they still need to be fully stabilized and commercialized.

[@NurdRage]

@Auroraa94 where am I going to get a billion dollar semiconductor fabrication facility for it?

[@Vitamin_Games]

Thanks so much for making this video it helped me come up with an IRP topic for this year. These cells are very cool! I would know now given that I researched them for hours. Also I found even more improvement then you listed at the end of your video. If anybody has any questions on how I made mine, how i got my materials, or about any research I did feel free to ask!

[@hedgehoghero8692]

Hey. I know this is from 11 years ago, however I am writing a research report on these forms of solar cells, and your improvements would be greatly appreaciated! :D

[@_Piers_]

I just wanted to say thank you for this video... Just knowing that sort of thing is possible in a relativly low tech way is a real eye opener. It's been a long time since I did any chemistry, so my understanding of quite whythis works is not so good...I understand you explination of the way in which it works though, so that's a start at least. It's nice that it's possible to dabble in something that hopefully will be very important in the future.

[@Michealfarmer]

Its great to have all the suggestions for improvements at the end. Thanks heaps for the video! Appreciate it!

[@NurdRage]

@blueduderanch what was incorrect about my statements on titanium dioxide?

[@janessaoverton7594]

Using Acetone To Clean The Slide? No Way! I Was Expecting Methyl Ethyl Ketone..... But As For The Solar Cell, Nice Work!

[@DrRawley]

+Janessa Frisch (Mario Quest 2) didn't feel like shelling out the money for that extra methyl group.

[@MarioLuigiVSKoopa]

+DrRawley SHE DON'T GOT NO MONEY!!!!

[@clssgn]

Lol, the motivation at the end tho! Nice. Sadly not my field of study in my undergrad thesis, but it could be for my grad thesis. Great work!

[@LaurentMaitreK]

Raspberry!! There is only one man who would dare give me the raspberry!!

[@nathanepstein838]

Thanks!! IM doing another project on these type of solar cells. This time, since the TiO2 didn't stick last time, i'm going to add an epoxy to see if it will help sinter the TiO2 to the Conductive Metallic Film that i'm using!! Thanks for all your help on these DSSC's!!!! (:

[@Cheejyg]

I love this. other youtubers do the experiment but never explain them except you! :)

[@NurdRage]

you can also use platinum

[@JohnKapsis1985]

i am very happy to be subscribed to you! thank you very much for being here!!!

[@NurdRage]

@RB13240 ya know.... that is an EXCELLENT question.... the straight platter itself might be a good back/counter electrode.... I'm not sure if it's resistant to corrosion or if the magnetic particles might react and break down.... but its a very good idea. Perhaps someone out there can give it a go. (HINT HINT) :)

[@NurdRage]

as long as there no source of ammonia, then NI3 won't form. So if the lab has ammonia, make sure its not stored in the same place as the iodine.

[@gigicaly]

ok so this is verry informative but useless at the same time as I have no I deea where to get those chemicals. All I managed to get was raspberries and I eat them all on the way home.

[@edmunddekock3279]

For the electrolyte I think you can mix iodine with ethanol, both are fairly easy to get, also TiO2 (titanium dioxide) is fairly easy to get (google). The indium tin oxide glass, I am not too sure how hard they are to get.

[@lemon93]

Titanium dioxide can actually be found in bad dragon cumlube

[@kkirschkk]

well google the chemicals, not the point to tell you where to get everything

[@lemon93]

The Reeper also for the glass I don't think it has to indium tin glass but is has to be clear and Conductive

[@kkirschkk]

***** yep

[@Core_VII]

I made one big enough so tat it made 1.273 VOLTS!

[@Avationguy001]

What about the current?

[@louistournas120]

Let's see it.

[@abhinavbalaji106]

how big was it? i want to make one that gives me 3 volts

[@isaackarjala7916]

If I'm right, the size of the cell would boost the current, and you'd need to wire multiple in series to boost the voltage... Unless you got a brighter light

[@superdau]

Nice! I did the experiment myself some time ago (using hibiscus tea for the dye). I also did some efficiency measurements depending on temperature, area and lighting conditions. I got a meager 0,0002 (0,02%) when heated to 60°C. But it worked! Btw NurdRage, be aware of the desk lamp you are using! I had the same model (from IKEA I think). The sliding contacts in the lower joints heated to almost 200°C (measured with an IR-thermometer after I saw the plastic melt away)

[@RockManAU]

I hope this inspires heaps of development in the field. Great vids, thanks. You know what I would love to see is a better use of all that money and skill currently being wasted on The LHC and, to a lesser degree Tokamak. Why? Because there are already dozens of semi developed technologies like solar, magnetic, antigravitic, geothermal etc etc that need refining NOW for our immediate clean energy needs. Imagine how efficient solar would be if six thousand million dollars was spent on it instead!

[@NurdRage]

Without a catalyst the reaction proceeds slower and you get less current.

[@zonac14]

i wish my school was more about this and you were my teacher

[@NurdRage]

@FartyArdvaark might not be universal, but at least we can apply it where it can be :)

The detergent contains surfactants. Those reduce surface tension of water and, in this case, prevent the TiO2+H2O mixture from beading on the glass and remain in an uniform thin layer while it's dried and baked. Without detergent (any detergent) the TiO2 paste will form beads/droplets.

[@ChirpysTinkerings]

I have a question, is the power produced based off of the color of the anthocyanin dye? Also, Im curious if anything would change if you used a more concentrated source of anthocyanin from lets say, a red cabbage?

[@joshuasaji]

im sorry dont have much of raspberries i am going to use my BlackBerry phone

[@tyler-le9se]

It was a joke.

[@HandlesBad]

@NurdRage I see, well you definitely choose interesting experiments. Also, I'm amazed that you do this on your own time and with your own money. The researching, testing, filming, editing, narrating and adding subtitles while still finding time to respond to comments. How do you do it sir?

[@NurdRage]

@leeofbacup That issue is built into the laws of thermodynamics. There is no way to get more energy out of a cycle than what you put in. Long story as to why that is, but its true. Hydrogen is a great energy carrier, but is not an energy source, unlike how the media portrays it. We first need large sources of energy to make hydrogen. And that's why we need to develop solar cells and other technologies.

[@omsingharjit]

I also wonder , I have many silicone based chip as junk from broken electronics , so i think can i i use old ic or processor or transistors to generate 3 - 6 voltage with 5 to 20 ma current to power small electronics like watch by Focusing Intense beam of light !!!!

[@mynameismatt2010]

Either last year or the year before a couple of British scientists were nominated for a Nobel prize for their work with graphene, when asked how they got so much so quickly they revealed their secret. They would take regular old scotch tape and very lightly apply it to a polished piece of graphite and could nearly always pull away a single layer. They would keep it on the tape for most of their experiments with it.

[@NurdRage]

@leeofbacup Thus the need for solar power or other sources of energy to get the hydrogen.

[@BlackCalvinist]

Hey you're on now! Cool. Great job on this video...all the other ones too. One of these days, you're going to finally prod me into doing one of these experiments.

[@MisterTHX1138]

Well this one has a lot of people thinking. Congratulations on the new top rated. But really, it's guys like you with a lifetime of chem knowledge that are the odds-on favorites to perfect this. However, maybe there is a bit of luck involved in perfecting this technology. First thing to figure out is a way around those expensive glass slides.

[@NurdRage]

@nhojmabon to be honest i don't know. but that's where the discovery is! if you can create a working improvement then go for it :)

[@NurdRage]

@Stanilem how long have silicon solar cells been around? :P

[@NurdRage]

@commandandco there are other people that absolutely despise me doing those videos and have kicked up a flame war or unsubscribed. But as you know, i do a variety of videos, silly, expensive, cheap, cool, synthetic, useful, broad or specific. Stick around and i'll eventually do something you like. I can appease some people some of the type, but i'm not awesome enough to appease everyone all the time :)

[@WarCloud20]

The periodic table is very powerful in these streets.

[@NurdRage]

@CallsignRaven1 Ya don't have to be legal drinking age to buy raspberries. Although i never tried red wine, if you should give it a go let me know your results :)

[@firebringer666]

And even if you somehow had to quit working in lab, you could always work in some radio station ;D Your voice is as great as the vids ;D

[@NurdRage]

@nucleochemist if you're buying from a chemical supply company, just buy the potassium iodide and convert some of it to iodine yourself.

[@omsingharjit]

At end of the video it's very motivational 😁😊