How Do Solar Panels Work Chemistry

Monocrystalline panels are composed of multiple rows and columns of silicon wafers that are placed inside of a single solar panel s glass casing.

How do solar panels work chemistry.

If this seems a little too complicated don t worry. Basic steps in solar energy generation and transmission sunlight hits the solar panels and creates an electric field. A solar cell is made of two types of semiconductors called p type and n type silicon. 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.

Old school solar technology uses large crystals made out of silicon which produces an electrical current when struck by light. Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity. The electricity generated flows to the edge of the panel and into a conductive wire. Ac energy then flows through the home s electrical panel and is distributed accordingly.

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. 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 designing a mono engineered panel companies. Silicon can do this because the electrons in the crystal get up and.

If silicon and phosphorus are combined chemically the result is a stable eight electrons with an additional free electron along for the ride. Solar panels are created by combining silicon with other elements that do have positive or negative charges. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units. 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.

This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. 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.