How Do Solar Panels Work Chemistry

Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity.

How do solar panels work chemistry.

Ac energy then flows through the home s electrical panel and is distributed accordingly. Silicon can do this because the electrons in the crystal get up and. Old school solar technology uses large crystals made out of silicon which produces an electrical current when struck by light. The electricity generated flows to the edge of the panel and into a conductive wire.

The p type silicon is produced by adding atoms such as boron or gallium that have one less electron in their outer energy level than does silicon. Basically when light strikes the cell a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. A solar cell is made of two types of semiconductors called p type and n type silicon. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor.

When sunlight hits the solar energy shakes electrons in the silicon out of their natural state while a circuit attached to the panel is able to generate a current out of those electrons desire to return to their original positions within the panel. Monocrystalline panels are composed of multiple rows and columns of silicon wafers that are placed inside of a single solar panel s glass casing. If this seems a little too complicated don t worry. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units.

Basic steps in solar energy generation and transmission sunlight hits the solar panels and creates an electric field. When designing a mono engineered panel companies. Photovoltaic cells are made of special materials called semiconductors such as silicon which is currently used most commonly. Phosphorus for example has five electrons to offer to other atoms.

Solar panels work by absorbing sunlight with photovoltaic cells generating direct current dc energy and then converting it to usable alternating current ac energy with the help of inverter technology. If silicon and phosphorus are combined chemically the result is a stable eight electrons with an additional free electron along for the ride.