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. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units. Monocrystalline panels are composed of multiple rows and columns of silicon wafers that are placed inside of a single solar panel s glass casing. The conductive wire brings the electricity to the inverter where it is transformed from dc electricity to ac which is used to power buildings. 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.

When designing a mono engineered panel companies. Because boron has one less electron than is required to form the bonds with the surrounding silicon atoms an electron vacancy or hole is created. Solar panels are created by combining silicon with other elements that do have positive or negative charges. Silicon can do this because the electrons in the crystal get up and.

Photovoltaic cells are made of special materials called semiconductors such as silicon which is currently used most commonly. 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. Ac energy then flows through the home s electrical panel and is distributed accordingly. If this seems a little too complicated don t worry.

The electricity generated flows to the edge of the panel and into a conductive wire. If silicon and phosphorus are combined chemically the result is a stable eight electrons with an additional free electron along for the ride. Phosphorus for example has five electrons to offer to other atoms. 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. Basically when light strikes the cell a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material.