At the heart of these cutting-edge solar systems lies a critical element: silver. This precious metal plays a vital role in the production of solar cells, enabling the conversion of sunlight into usable electricity. From the creation of conductive grid lines to reflective coatings, silver’s high conductivity and durability make it an essential component in the efficient generation and transmission of electricity.

In this article, we delve into the ways in which silver is used in solar technology, exploring some of the most common applications and highlighting the important role that this versatile metal plays in the creation of sustainable energy solutions for a greener future.

Common Ways Silver is Used in Solar Technology

Grid Lines

One of the most common ways that silver is used in solar technology is in the creation of the grid lines that make up the electrical circuitry of a solar cell. These grid lines are typically thin strips of silver that are deposited onto the surface of the cell in a process known as screen printing. The silver acts as a conductor, allowing the electricity generated by the cell to be transmitted to other components of the solar panel.

RELATED: See Our Infographic on How Silver is Used in Solar Technology

Reflective Coatings

Another way that silver is used in solar technology is in the creation of reflective coatings for the back of solar cells. These coatings help to reflect sunlight back into the cell, increasing its efficiency and reducing the amount of energy that is lost as heat.

Contacts and Connectors

In addition to these applications, silver is also used in the production of other components of solar cells, such as contacts and connectors. It is valued for its high conductivity and durability, making it an ideal material for use in the harsh conditions of the outdoors.

Looking Ahead: New and More Efficient Solar Cells

As solar technology continues to advance, new and innovative uses for silver are likely to emerge. One potential area of development is the use of silver nanoparticles in the creation of more efficient solar cells, which could improve the conversion of sunlight into electricity. Additionally, new methods of depositing silver onto solar cells may be developed, such as the use of inkjet printing, which could improve the precision and efficiency of the manufacturing process.

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Aside from reducing the risk of infection, silver has also been shown to have osteoinductive properties. These properties help prompt bone cell formation and mineralization following surgery, something that classic titanium implants have been known to fail at.

Laser-Assisted Nanotexturing and Silver Immobilization

The technique was developed by Rahim Rahimi, a Purdue University assistant professor in the School of Materials Engineering. What stands out about Rahimi’s patent-pending process is that it can be applied to many already existing titanium screws, rods, and implant devices used during orthopedic and trauma surgery.

“The first step of the two-step process creates a hierarchical nanostructure onto the titanium implant surface to enhance the bone cells’ attachment,” Rahimi said. “The second step immobilizes silver with antibacterial properties onto the titanium implant surface.

What is being called “laser-assisted nanotexturing and silver immobilization,” was applied to multiple titanium-based devices, and then tested against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The new nanotextured, silver surface was shown to maintain antimicrobial properties for more than 6 days against both forms of these common infectious bacteria. Encouragingly, this new silver coating presents a promising solution to a prevent infections from a wide range of microbes that can accumulate on implant devices. Further, the coating stays intact for some time –  potentially eliminating the need for continued antibiotic treatment following orthopedic surgery, which is not sustainable.

A 2.5-fold increase in bone integration, also known as osseointegration, was also observed when compared to “pristine” titanium implant surfaces.

Rahimi and his team plan to improve upon their technique and are hopeful for patent approval. In the meantime, they plan to continue to apply nanotexturization and silver immobilization to other devices commonly used in orthopedic procedures. If they get FDA approval, you can expect to find silver used more commonly in implant devices.

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Out of all the precious metals, silver has the greatest electrical conductivity. This makes it an optimal material for making electronic components like circuit boards, electrodes, and wires. As a result, silver is highly sought after by the manufacturers who need to satisfy the growing demand for “green energy” technologies such as high-efficiency solar panels, long-lasting batteries, and electric vehicles.

Let’s look at the role silver plays in generating clean energy.

Silver in Electric Vehicles

Silver’s resistance to corrosion is a crucial factor in creating electronics for many industries, and the electric vehicle (EV) industry is no exception.

Car manufacturers use silver to improve the conductivity in the electrical contacts for power seats and windows, as well as other integral automotive electronics. EV manufacturers in particular use silver for additional components like sensor systems and batteries. This precious metal is such an important part of EV manufacturing that one study found the automotive sector will approach an incredible 90 million ounces of silver consumption by 2025.

Silver in Solar Panels

Over the past decade, the world has begun to look for more ways to generate clean energy, and the popularity of solar panels has grown in both the home and industrial markets.

Solar panels work by harnessing the power of the sun with photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are made with silver paste and silicon wafers layered together to conduct electricity.

When sunlight strikes a solar PV cell, the conductors in the silver paste absorb the energy and electrons are set free to maximize the output of solar cells.

Most solar panels use 20 grams of silver in the manufacturing process, which means the solar panel industry consumes about 8% of the world’s silver supply. This growing market has also been responsible for increasing the reclamation of silver, adding it to the list of renewable energy sources.

Silver in Battery Cells

Many of the smaller batteries found in today’s personal electronic devices such as watches, calculators, and hearing aids are made with silver.

Silver oxide batteries are replacing lithium-ion batteries, thanks to silver oxide leading to a more efficient and longer-lasting experience for consumers. This is especially helpful in the smallest devices, where it’s not always easy to replace a battery.

This increased demand for silver in clean energy generation will likely continue for the foreseeable future, and will also be a massive help for the health of our planet (and the bottom line for silver investors).

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Read on to learn what influences a spot price, elements that can impact the spot price and more.

Spot Price vs. Futures Price

While there are many unique features of spot prices and futures market prices, the primary difference between the two is time, which can have a dramatic impact on price. Spot price is the cost of immediate delivery of the product while the futures price is a contract for payment and delivery of a commodity at a pre-determined future date.

Because the futures pricing plays a role in determining the spot price, it’s important to make that distinction.

What Determines Spot Price?

There isn’t a simple answer to this question, as there are many factors that go into determining the spot price of gold, silver, and other precious metals.

However, gold and silver spot prices are mainly determined by commodity exchanges, including the “London fix” and the U.S. COMEX, where gold and silver are traded mostly through futures contracts. The spot price changes constantly as the markets move throughout the trading day.

What Impacts Spot Price?

Spot prices of precious metals are constantly in flux as many domestic and global market components influence the spot price of gold, silver and others, including:

• Economic data
• Inflation or deflation
• Geopolitical news and events
• Federal Reserve actions
• Equity markets
• Interest rates
• Currencies

When understanding spot prices for the precious metals of interest, it’s valuable to understand the interconnectivity of global markets that all play a role in impacting the day-to-day spot prices of precious metals.

Ready to Sell Your Scrap Metals?

Manhattan Gold & Silver specializes in precious metal scrap made from gold, silver, platinum and palladium. We can help you by determining the precious metal’s value and provide a quick, fair payout when you want to sell your lot.

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Read on to learn how the Nevada silver rush began and its impact on the American landscape.

Origins of the Nevada Silver Rush

Arguably, the Nevada silver rush is the truest “rush” there ever was. It began when the first prospectors arrived in Nevada, not in search of silver, but gold. It turns out that for a few hopeful miners, their journey to find gold resulted instead in one of the biggest silver strikes in recorded history.

The Comstock Lode started with two brothers, Hosea and Ethan Grosh, who struck a remarkable vein of silver in 1859. So large was the strike that it kicked off a reverse migration from California, as ambitious prospectors poured into Nevada’s Washoe Valley.

One of these dogged miners was Henry Tompkins Comstock, a good friend of the Grosh brothers. After both of the brothers died from diseases of the era, Comstock and others laid claim to the famous lode that became the most lucrative silver mine in American history.

Though the lode was a source of great riches, it was no easy task to source silver. The journey to the lode itself was hard enough requiring a long trek up rudimentary mountain trails from California to Nevada. Even upon arrival, life was tough with poor housing and a lack of necessities.

What Made The Nevada Silver Rush Unique?

The Nevada Silver Rush was unique in that it was so accessible.

In California, the gold rush began when prospectors rushed to the state and began panning gold nuggets directly from mountain streams. Eventually, mining companies moved in and excavated deep veins of gold that panners couldn’t reach.

The mining camps formed by these companies evolved into mining towns with stable communities. However, this was not the case for Nevada, where silver formed directly on the surface. Nevada’s harsh climate helped concentrate the silver into dense gray crusts. According to Geologist and writer Andrew Alden, “You could shovel the mineral right off the ground, and you didn’t need a Ph.D. to find it.”

The Effects On The American Landscape

Before the silver rush, Nevada was considered by many to be a wild and untamable land. Once Nevada became a viable center of mining activity, the territory of Nevada was granted statehood in 1864.

You can see remnants of Nevada’s silver age in many of its ghost towns. Except for Carson City, by and large, Nevada’s mining boomtowns are long abandoned.

Got Silver To Share? Exchange It With Us

Though Nevada’s silver rush may have come and gone, silver has not gone anywhere. If you have any silver scrap at home or your business, be sure to consider exchanging it with us. We offer quick and fair payouts based on thorough testing methods and the latest London Fixing prices.

The post What Was The Nevada Silver Rush, and Why Was It Special? appeared first on Manhattan Gold & Silver.

We’ll explain how silver is made from its formation in the earth to how it’s refined.

How Silver Forms In The Earth

Silver is formed from sulfur compounds within the earth where its crust heats up to between 200- and 400-degrees Fahrenheit. In nature, silver is found combined with other metals, or in minerals with silver compounds. These minerals typically include sulfides like cerussite or galena.

Silver Mining

Silver mines are located around the world. In the United States, silver mining began when the Comstock Lode was discovered in Nevada in 1858, which kicked off a “silver rush” similar to the gold rush.

Though you might think silver is mined in nugget form, this is far from the norm. More often than not, silver is found alongside a range of other metals. This includes gold and copper, and compounds like sulfur. The hunks of alloyed metals mined are then refined, which is where silver is extracted.

Refined silver is melted and poured into bars or ingots. Sometimes, miners and refiners will send their bars directly to consumers. However, most of the time, industrial silver mining companies will ship ingots to commercial clients like private and government mints. The mints will then transform the ingots into silver bullion like coins, rounds, or bars.

Uses of Silver Currency

Only a very small percentage of the world’s silver is now used for coinage. Although silver was a popular form of currency in the past, as industrialized nations produced large quantities of silver coins in the twentieth century, silver became less available and more expensive. The U.S. Treasury changed their minting with a 1965 act of Congress. The Johnson Silver Coinage Act demonetized silver, and excluding bicentennial coins, all newly minted United States coins now consist of an alloy of copper and nickel.

Conclusion

Though silver may not be as expensive as other precious metals like gold, it still holds a respectable amount of value. If you have any scrap jewelry made of silver or silver bullion, be sure to sell it to a precious metals refiner like Manhattan Gold & Silver. We deliver quick and fair payouts for all precious metals you exchange with us.

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Today, we’ll explain why silver tarnishes and what you can do to help prevent your favorite silver accessories or utensils from losing their sheen.

What Causes Silver To Tarnish?

Pure silver never tarnishes. However, you likely don’t own a piece of jewelry or utensil made from pure silver because it is so soft it cannot be used to make these kinds of items.

Pure silver is often mixed with other metals like copper to create an alloy that is stronger and more durable. Usually, sterling silver is created, which is made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals (typically copper). While the addition of copper makes silver more durable, it also makes sterling silver more likely to tarnish by reacting to chemicals in the air.

Often sterling silver will react to sulfur, which is found in the air, especially if you live in an urban or industrial area. When silver meets hydrogen sulfide, which is known for its “rotting egg” smell, it reacts to form silver sulfide, the substance that constitutes the tarnish that forms over silver objects. Copper found in sterling silver will also react with oxygen to form red copper oxide, which could also tarnish your silver’s surface.

Tips To Help Prevent Silver Tarnishing

Luckily, you can help prevent or at least delay the tarnishing of your silver by taking a couple of actions:

1. Wear Your Silver Regularly

A great way to help prevent your silver jewelry from tarnishing is by wearing it regularly. Your skin’s natural oils can assist in keeping your jewelry clean.

2. Polishing cloths

Using a polishing cloth for your silver is one of the best ways to prevent and remove tarnish. You can get microfiber silver polishing cloths from jewelers or jeweler supply shops. These cloths are typically infused with a silver-polishing substance that helps to keep your silver clean.  

3. Keep Your Jewelry In A Dry Area

Moisture can greatly speed up silver tarnishing. The higher the humidity level, the faster your silver will tarnish. To avoid this, place some chalk or silica gel where you store your jewelry. They will help to absorb moisture from the storage area and keep it dry.

Is Your Silver Jewelry Too Old or Tarnished? Sell Your Scrap Silver Jewelry

If you feel it’s time to change out your silver jewelry for something new, don’t stick it in your attic and forget about it just yet. Consider selling your scrap silver jewelry to a precious metals refiner like Manhattan Gold & Silver. We process silver scrap fast and base our valuation on the latest London Fixing Prices.

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Read on to learn 6 fun facts about silver that prove just how important a resource it is.

1.   Silver Is Linguistically Interesting

Silver is undeniably associated with money. The words “silver” and “money” are the same in at least 14 different languages. For example, “argent” means money and silver in French, and in Irish, “airgead” means “money” in modern-day English, but originally meant “silver.”

Another fun fact about silver in the English language is that it is one of the few words with no possible rhyme.

2.   Silver Is An Excellent Conductor

Of all the elements, silver is the best electric conductor. It’s the only metal that can score 100 percent conductivity, with the next closest competitor being copper at 97 percent. This makes silver incredibly important in making solar panels where it can account for 6 percent of the total cost of building each unit of a panel.

Silver is also the most effective thermal conductor of all the metals.

3.   Silver Is The Most Malleable Metal Alongside Gold

Silver is the most ductile (malleable metal) along with gold. For example, an ounce of silver can be formed into a wire that is eight thousand feet long. Its malleability is a critical reason why it is great for creating jewelry and silverware.

4.   Silver Is Incredibly Reflective

Silver is the most reflective metal as it can reflect 95 percent of the visible light spectrum. As a result, many mirrors are coated with silver. Its reflectivity also makes it popular for use in telescopes, solar panels, and microscopes.

5.   Mexico Leads The World In Silver Production

According to Investopedia, the country that produces the most silver in the world is Mexico. In 2019, they produced 6,300 metric tons of silver – an increase of 180 metric tons from the previous year. They haven’t hit their peak yet either, silver production in Mexico is expected to continue growing.

6.   Silver Is One Of The Oldest Known Metals

Silver holds a notable place in the history of the elements as it is one of the first five metals discovered by humans. The other four metals are copper, gold, lead, and iron.

Some silver objects date to before 4000 BC in Greece. Silver artifacts have also been found in the Sumerian city of Kish that date from around 3000 BC.

Silver’s Worth Extends Beyond Its Monetary Value

Though silver may not be the most expensive precious metal, it is still historically significant and has many important uses. As a result, silver scrap can be found in a lot of jewelry and industrial byproducts. If you have silver scrap you’d like to sell, consider selling it to a precious metals refiner like Manhattan Gold and Silver. We can help to quickly assess the value of your metals, so you get a quick and fair payout.

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Magnetic Metals

Few metals we encounter daily are magnetic. A few you may know include iron, nickel and cobalt.

Metals you may encounter less often but are magnetic include neodymium, samarium, and gadolinium. The only time an item containing gold or silver could stick to magnets is if it was silver or gold plated. This is because though the item’s surface would be plated in gold or silver, the metals underneath could cause the magnet to stick.

Nonmagnetic Metals

Although silver and gold are not magnetic, this doesn’t mean nonmagnetic items are always real precious metals. Plenty of items like watches or pieces of jewelry could be made with non-magnetic material like copper or plastic. Some metals look like silver but are not magnetic like aluminum, pewter, and zinc.

So, if the magnet test isn’t necessarily a bulletproof method to test for real gold or silver, how can we verify authenticity?

Precious Metal Testing Methods

A few tests exist that work to verify the authenticity of your silver and gold, including:

• Gold Acid Tests: With gold acid tests, a piece of your metal is scratched against a basalt stone. This leaves a mark on the stone. By applying specific strengths of nitric acid to this mark and measuring its reaction, you can then accurately measure the purity of your precious metal.
• Fire Assay or Melt Tests: Fire assays are the standard for verifying and valuing gold and silver at major mining companies and refineries. In this process, the metal is melted down, then the sample is chemically separated from other metals. This is the most reliable testing method because it is the most accurate way to determine the amount and purity of precious metals.
• X-Ray Testing: This test works by bathing your precious metal sample in x-rays. Your metal then emits light (a.k.a. fluorescence) at an energy level specific to its atomic structure. By measuring this unique energy level, the XRF machine can then analyze the purity of your sample within five parts-per-thousand. The biggest benefits of XRF are that it is quick, with results available in minutes. It’s also nondestructive, which means your precious metal sample won’t be damaged or lost during the testing process.

When In Doubt, Consult an Expert

If you’re at all in doubt about your gold or silver items, consider consulting a precious metals refinery like Manhattan Gold and Silver. They can help to test your item and even value them, so you get the best payout if you’re looking to sell.

The post Are Precious Metals Like Gold and Silver Magnetic? appeared first on Manhattan Gold & Silver.

It is part of a new generation of silver alloys developed to combat problems typically associated with silver. Read on to learn what Argentium silver is and its notable features.

What is Argentium Silver?

Argentium silver is a part of a new generation of silver alloys. It was developed largely to combat the tarnish that happens when silver oxidizes after encountering air, which is a big drawback for people who love silver.

This is not its only benefit, however. It also boasts other useful features, including:

• Increased electrical & thermal resistance
• Increased ductility
• Firescale elimination

Like many other forms of silver, Argentium has its own unique origin story.

The Origins of Argentium Silver

Argentium was not discovered under a rock or excavating the surface of the moon. Instead, it was created in 1991 by the Master metallurgist and silversmith, Peter Johns at Middlesex University. It took Johns 10 years of research to produce before Metaleurop, a mining company, contacted Johns in regard to two metals they had found: indium and germanium. Johns chose to work with germanium, and Argentium silver was born.

So, now that we have an idea of what Argentium silver is, let’s take a look at Sterling silver to see just how different these two alloys are.

What is Sterling Silver?

Standard Sterling silver is made up of 92.5% pure silver while its remaining 7.5% consists of other metals like copper, which make it harder and more suitable for many different applications. However, its use of copper makes it prone to tarnishing when exposed to air, which means it needs to be cleaned routinely to maintain its sheen.

Many jewelers have tried to overcome this effect by rhodium plating higher quality silver pieces, but this involves additional costs that smaller manufacturers can’t always take on. Rhodium has a beautiful bright white finish that is used on white gold and silver, but it is expensive.

The Difference Between Argentium Silver and Sterling Silver

The biggest difference between Argentium and Sterling silver is their contents. Like we learned earlier, Sterling silver is a popular alloy in jewelry-making that consists of a mixture of pure silver and other alloys. However, Argentium has a greater amount of pure silver depending on the grade (935, which consists of 93.5% pure silver, or 960, which has 96% pure silver). The remainder of its contents is made of other alloys like a small amount of germanium.

Selling Your Silver Scrap Can Be A Great Idea

If you have any Argentium or Sterling silver jewelry scrap or pieces you’re not using, consider selling it to a precious metals refiner like Manhattan Gold & Silver. We provide quick, safe and fair payouts as we work hard to ensure you get the best deal for your scrap.

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