YouTuber builds working solar cell at home with microwave kiln

TechRadar reported that the project used items sourced from retailers including Amazon, Walmart and eBay. The tools included sandpaper, household solvents, a repurposed PC cooling fan and a 3D printer. A full guide is available online, and while some technical capability is required, the video presents the build as a science experiment rather than a near-term way to cut electricity bills.

The cell follows the same basic principles as standard solar panels, which use silicon semiconductors doped with phosphorus to create an electrical boundary that converts light into energy. Dr. Semiconductor started with a p-type silicon wafer from Amazon and used a microwave kiln, typically sold for arts and crafts, inside a standard microwave. The kiln converts microwave energy into heat.

That heat was used to diffuse phosphorus into the silicon wafer. Temperature control was critical: around 1,000C (1,832F) was needed to fuse the silicon and phosphorus, while too much heat melted the silicon completely. After further refining and the addition of soft metal contacts, the solar cell was completed and tested with a multimeter.

The 5% efficiency is far below that of professional solar panels, but TechRadar reported that the cell was made without the industrial-scale facilities and instruments usually involved. Dr. Semiconductor said there is room to improve the process and that future follow-ups are expected.