How to Grow “Silicon” Crystals to Make Solar Cells
Find out how you can grow “Silicon” crystals in order to make solar cells. This is a very useful knowledge for those who are interested to make their very own solar power systems from scratch.
You will need
o Plastic coffee Jar (empty)
o Skewer
o Hardboiled egg
o Sugar
o Food coloring
o Tools
o Compass
o Egg slicer
To make a photovoltaic cell we need silicon, this article is going to show you how solar cells are produced from crystalline silicon.The words “crystalline silicon” should indicate to you that this type of solar cell is made from crystals of silicon. We saw earlier how silicon aligns itself into a regular crystalline array, now we are going to look at growing this crystal.
In industry, silicon crystals are grown to form a uniform cylinder of silicon which is used as the base material for crystalline solar cells. There is plenty of silicon about on the earth, in fact, as mentioned previously, after oxygen it is the second most abundant element. When you think that sand and quartz all contain silicon and then imagine the amount of sand in the world, you begin to realize that we are not going to run out of silicon in a hurry!
The problem with sand is that it also contains oxygen in the form of silicon dioxide, which must be removed.
The industrial process used to produce silicon requires temperatures of around 3270oF (which is about 1800oC). Obviously we can’t experiment with these3 sorts of temperatures at home – but we can recreate the process!
If you want to do it all yourself, the process is a relatively easy one. You are going to need a saturated sugar solution; this will sit in the lid of your coffee jar. Now, take a large crystal of sugar, often sold as “rock sugar” and “glue” it to the end of the skewer. Next, drill a hole the same diameter as the skewer, and poke the skewer through the bottom of the coffee jar. Stand it on a windowsill and lower the crystal into the saturated sugar solution. Over some time, crystals should start to grow – pull the skewer up slowly, bit by bit, so that the growing crystal is still in contact with the sugar solution. This is just like the way that silicon is grown. The silicon is drawn up slowly from a bath of molten hot silicon (which is analogous to our saturated sugar solution).
Once this large crystal of silicon has been manufactured, it must be cut into slices to manufacture the solar cells.
Properties and Uses of Silicon Dioxide
If you are a chemistry student then you must be familiar with the element known as Silicon Dioxide, but are you aware of its various uses. You will be fascinated to know that this chemical element has several uses in everyday life include heavy duty industrials. In this article, we will give you a briefing on the different characteristics and uses of this element.
It is interesting to note that the element Silicon (Si) is not found in its original form. It is always dependent on a second element for its existence. Hence, you will always find an oxidized form of Silicon Dioxide, known as silicon dioxide or SiO2. If you wish to see it, you can visit any sandy place as there you will find silicon dioxide in abundance. It is also found in quartz form as well as diatoms. All these are the naturally occurring forms. In our day to day life, we find various forms of silicon dioxide, or silica that are generally known as silica gel or silicic acid.
Interesting facts about Silicon Dioxide:
When exposed to high temperatures, without any external factors, silica turns into glass form. This amazing property of the element to turn itself into glass is used to create a variety of glass objects.
There are several benefits of using silicon dioxide in food. The very presence of this element in food helps to strengthen our bones and joints. Those who regularly consume silicon dioxide rich diet, maintain good strength and density of the bones, reducing any risk of arthritis or osteoarthritis.
As we know silica exists in sand form, it is used in the ceramics industry. It is one of the chief constituents of ceramic glaze. Without it, other ingredients may not be able to fasten themselves. This is so because silica has the unique property of turning to glass when heated. It helps in keeping the other substances together.
This element is also used in the telecommunication sector. In this field, silica is used in the form of optical fibers, which are prepared from this element.
The unique properties of silica make it highly useful in the manufacturing of cement. Hence, it is largely helpful in construction industry.
The purest form of silica is used in manufacturing electronics, particularly micro-electronics. The chips are organized and implanted in electronics to check and adjust the level of electrical activities within the electronic item.
If you are interested to know more about silica and other chemical elements, based what is taught in the classroom, consider hiring a private tutor who can give answers to all your questions.
Bengaluru – Silicon Valley of India
Awe-inspiring skyscrapers, futuristic IT zones, mushrooming businesses and impossibly clean roads, sprawled over 740 sq. kms. housing 8 million ambitious but friendly people, together comprise Bengaluru city. The various attributes of the city led to Bengaluru being dubbed as Garden City, India’s Silicon Valley, Pub Capital Of India, Fashion Capital Of India, Floriculture Capital and Science Capital Of The Country.
Bengaluru owes its name to a kind old lady who rescued a Hoysala king from the pangs of hunger by serving him some cooked pulses. As a token of appreciation for this deed, the king named his region Benda Kaaluru (city of boiled beans). The city’s history has been constructed by a number of note worthy kings belonging to the Hoysala dynasty and the Vijayanagar empire, and British governors. A number of monuments and palaces glorify various events that took place over the ages.
Bengaluru has metamorphosed from the peaceful abode of quiet retired souls to the headquarters of loud, fast-paced, tech-savvy professionals. The Bengaluru City seems to have a knack for adopting cutting-edge technologies that inevitably boost its developmental pace – its streets were the foremost to be illuminated by electricity in India, and the foundations of the country’s first aircraft manufacturers, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), were laid here.
Bengaluru is India’s premier IT hub, housing the highest number of software companies in India. That the city attracts IT professionals like bees buzzing about a flower has been proved by a survey conducted by Aspiring minds Research Cell, where in Bengaluru is stated to be the preferred workplace of 72% of fresh IT graduates. The city’s IT sector records exponential growth that is unparalleled by any other Indian state.
Sound educational systems are a pre-requisite for development, and Bengaluru is home to hundreds of schools and colleges boasting commendable infrastructural facilities. From elementary schools to PG colleges, one is guaranteed to find an educational institution that caters to all their needs. The superior educational system of Bengaluru is the reason that the city is credited with cultivating most of India’s Nobel Prize nominees.
Bengaluru is enlivened by the zealous, mall-hopping, club-crashing youth of the city, who zip by the streets as though they were a part of a Grand Prix. The city is home to the most effervescent clubs, whose dance-floors are set on fire by the state’s best DJs, live musicians and bands. There is no dearth of entertainment for the people of Bengaluru, thanks to the 90-odd cinema halls and multiplexes peppered over the city. The multi-lingual state celebrates all festivals with great gusto, and numerous cultural organizations strive to regenerate the ebbing interest in the Indian tradition by conducting various entertainment programmes aimed at different audiences.
Over 230 hotels in Bengaluru (both budget and 5-star) cater to the needs of business and leisure travelers. Arranging sight-seeing trips has been made easier than ever as most of the accommodation facilities consist of a travel desk. Bengaluru is a city that features on the itinerary of all those visiting India, for its cultural diversity, rich heritage and wondrous modernity.