DIY nanoparticle copper conductive Paint

[Peterae]

So i was searching for a DIY way to make conductive paint and i found a fantastic video by  Robert Murray-Smith THANKS Robert.
He makes copper nanoparticles using copper sulphate & ascorbic acid(Vitamin C), he uses gum Arabic which is water soluble to bond the particles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iyRUBvd260

[ion]

Thanks Peter

Those video tutorials will come in handy.

I wonder if you could print copper oxide rectifiers in a two step process, letting one layer oxidize.

[Peterae]

Hi ION
He's a clever chap, has quiet a bit on Graphene and how to make it as well, but not had chance to watch that stuff.

Funny i also wondered about the copper oxide rectifier, maybe quiet lossy due to the amount of gum impurities making the resistance higher, but would probably work i think.

Peter

[Chet K]

Gents
One of the big rules in Plating is Cleanliness , typically Oxide layers between "coats" are to be avoided.
This however is a Quality issue for the end result.

it is typically quite easy to get an oxide layer ....[sloppy workmanship and procedures will rapidly develop Oxide layers]

in this case you want a specific Oxide "boundary" layer

I have never intentionally tried this however I am certain it is Doable .

thx
Chet
ps
This is of-course Brush plating. 

[Slider2732]

For the rectifier idea and following Roberts demo method...an idea is to brush on 1 layer onto a piece of plastic/circuitboard/paper and leave it, then brush on a 2nd layer on another piece but use pressure to form the shiny copper. Put one on top of the other and seal.
Best results may come with leaving the first layer for some time. to acquire the oxide layer of desired thickness.

This concept has me thinking about solar panels.
Normally I use panel pieces from a 1lb bag of bits that Silicon Solar sell (works out to about 15c per Watt, but it's all smashed up panels). Connect up using 30AWG and size the bits for an 18V 1A panel. 30AWG will carry up to about 1A, so it all becomes very useful and easy to do.
The one problem area, is that monocrystalline panels will break almost by looking at them and even 30AWG can be difficult to use.
Using the copper paint on paper, thicker tracks could be simply painted, to carry more current. The paper tracks would be cut in strips from a sheet of paper covered in the ink. Then they'd be just like the commercial panel connecting wire, which is quite expensive for what it is.

For clarity, here is such a panel, output 19V 1.1A: