YouTuber makes a fully functioning solar cell at home using a microwave

Date:
Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:50:51 +0000

Description:
In an impressive bit of DIY engineering, YouTuber Dr. Semiconductor has made
a working solar cell with readily available items.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter A new YouTube video shows the process of making a solar cell Low-cost, household items and tools are used throughout The solar cell works and get reach up to 5% efficiency for conversion We've heard of DIY solar before , but this is next-level: YouTuber Dr. Semiconductor has been able to create fully functional solar cells, using low-cost household materials and items, which can reach up to 5% efficiency.

That's a long way short of professional solar panels of course, but if you check out the video (via Interesting Engineering ), you'll see it's all done without the industrial-scale facilities and instruments usually involved. In fact, you too could do this at home. Everything included in the video has
been sourced from retailers such as Amazon , Walmart, and eBay, and with fairly standard tools including sandpaper, household solvents, a repurposed PC cooling fan, and a 3D printer. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

There's a full guide online if you do want to try this yourself, and while some technical capabilities are definitely needed, it's a fascinating science experiment to try out (even if you're not going to be saving on your electricity bill anytime soon). Microwave manufacturing Making Solar Panels with a Microwave - YouTube Watch On Standard solar panels use silicon semiconductors doped with phosphorus to create the electrical boundary that converts light into energy, and Dr. Semiconductor followed the same
principles here, starting with a p-type silicon wafer sourced from Amazon.
You may like This new solar panel tech could take it past a significant threshold Can't have plug-in solar panels? These 12 solar gadgets will brighten your home anyway Plug-in solar just became legal in the UK 5 things you need to know

The YouTuber then turned to a microwave kiln, widely available at retailers but more typically used for arts and crafts projects. It sits inside a standard microwave and converts microwave energy into heat.

That heat was used to diffuse phosphorus into the silicon wafer, but temperature control was crucial: too much and the silicon melted completely. Around 1,000C (1,832F) was necessary to get the silicon and phosphorus fused together. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

With some further refining and the addition of soft metal contacts, the solar cell was complete, and tested via a multimeter. What's more, Dr.
Semiconductor says there's lots of room to improve on the process so expect future follow-ups. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best laptops for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/home/energy-saving/a-youtuber-just-built-a-fully-fun ctioning-solar-cell-at-home-using-a-microwave-kiln-thanks-to-parts-from-amazon -walmart-and-ebay-the-science-experiment-hit-5-percent-efficiency


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