How Do Electrons Flow On Solar Panel

The solar panels generate electricity as long the sun hits the solar panels.

How do electrons flow on solar panel.

Because of the opposite charges of the layers the electrons want to flow from the n type layer to the p type layer. Solar panels are made up of hundreds of photovoltaic cells which are most often composed of silicon as the semi conductor. Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity. When this sunlight hits the semi conductor metal of the photovoltaic panels electrons are released which is what creates direct current electricity.

So how do we create a flow of electrons using a solar pv panel and sunshine. In order for your home to use this energy it must be converted from dc electricity to alternating current ac electricity where the electrons are pushed and pulled. When the sunlight falls on the solar cells the electrons in semiconductor gets enough energy to be excited from valence to conduction band. Electron movement at this surface produces an electric field that allows electrons to flow only from the p type layer to the n type layer.

The magic that makes solar panels work the photovoltaic effect is the fancy name given to the phenomenon of converting light to electricity in a conventional solar panel. When the solar cell is connected to a load lamp small fan etc the electrons flows due to potential difference created between the cathode and anode. The higher the rate of photons striking the solar cell the more power it can produce. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units.

The generation of electricity is based on the creation of an electric field. An electric field is created when opposite charges interact similar to the poles of a magnet. When sunlight enters the cell its energy knocks electrons loose in both layers. Once the loose electrons hit metal plates the current is then directed into wires allowing the electrons to flow like they would in any other source of electric generation step 2 in our process.

Electricity is simply a flow of electrons running around a closed circuit. If this happens in the electric field the field will move electrons to the n type layer and holes to the p type layer. When sunlight strikes a solar cell electrons in the silicon are ejected which results in the formation of holes the vacancies left behind by the escaping electrons.