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Q&As since 1989


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Stopping Silver tarnish on solar cells

2003

Dear Readers,

I work for a solar cell production company and recently we have been having problems with silver tarnishing on our solar cells. We would dearly like to prevent it, however, many of the methods commonly used are incompatible with the process we have. Consequently I would like to know if the process of silver tarnishing is self limiting.

Cheers,

James Cotsell
Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems - Canberra, ACT, Australia

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I doubt that it's self-limiting as I have seen silver that's almost the color of carbon black. But in a glassware museum I have seen double-walled stemware with silver sealed in the vacuum and which is untarnished after a century. Most of us have seen thermos bottles a decade old or more that are likewise untarnished (although I don't know whether they are actually silver or aluminum); but the point is, if you can exclude the air the silver won't tarnish.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

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2003

Dear Readers,

I work for a small solar cell production company and we are currently having trouble with tarnishing on our silver busbars. We are looking at alternatives to silver or coatings but would prefer to do nothing if the silver tarnishing is self limiting. I was wondering if anyone knew whether tarnishing continues once there is a layer of silver sulfide formed over the entire surface.

Cheers,

James Cotsell
Centre for Sustainable energy Systems - Canberra, ACT, Australia

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Re: Silver tarnishing. Try rhodium plating the silver or try rhodium rather than silver this hard shiny metal is non tarnishing and is used extensively in the jewelry industry and aero-space.

Good luck,

Laurence Brenner
- Toronto, Canada
2004