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social science database - SSData.org>Engineering>

My friends and I are interested in building a solar panel, which is part of a project we are doing in school. We have a lot of silicon, (2 Motherboards and a lot of audio cards/modem cards), we just don't know how to get the silicon off of our supplies? Does anyone know how, we think we have to burn it off, but are not exactly sure. Also, what else will we need, and we don't want to spend a lot of money, hence why we a building one, plus it'd be more fun that way. Any help is appreciated.Using raw metallic silicon to make your own photovoltaic cells is a long shot--probably not possible.

So I would forget doing it that way. The facilities required for making photovoltaic cells are quite sophisticated, and are really not something you can do in your garage or spare room.

You will have to spend money to buy photovoltaic cells. The link below is a good starting point.

http://scientificsonline.com/category.as...

They have a number of scientific "kits" from which you can learn a lot. There are numerous other sources.

But you will not succeed in using silicon from old junk parts. It can't be done.

Sorry. I hope something works out for you.Well, to start with, the first poster is very right by stating that it can't be done in a garage. However, a silicon solar cell is not the ONLY way to get energy from the sun, and it all depends on how much power you need. Some materials give off electricity when heated (I'm thinking a concave mirror or a magnifying glass - *careful* with your eyes, don't ever look into it). There are many ways go can make a solar panel WITHOUT silicon. Hope this helps...