The working of solar panels is not a complex thing to understand. It is very simple and can easily be understood. In this simple process, sunlight strikes a certain type of material where it excites electrons and generates a current and voltage. That voltage can be utilized to empower devices. Following is the explanation of the working of solar panels.
Silicon as Semiconductor
Silicon is obtained from the earth. It is one of the most abundant elements of the earth. It is readily avoidable in all types of sand and rocks. Silicon is a semi conductor that is used for various purposes. Copper is also used as conductor in copper wires. Rubber is an insulator that is used to coat the copper wire. Silicon is half insulator and half conductor that is why it is known as semi-conductor.
Boron and Phosphorous in Solar Panels
Silicon is not sufficient to generate power from the sun. Silicon is tailored into a thinner crystal-like wafer that is done by heat and pressure. That silicone wafer is coated with two substances, which are boron and phosphorous. Boron coating is done on the back contact, while phosphorous coating is done on the front contact; a gap is left between these two layers. Boron acts as a positive material when it is combined with silicon, but it has to be neutral. The only possible way to keep it neutral is to obtain electron with a negative charge. In case of phosphorous, silicon and phosphorous when combine becomes negatively charged material. It simply means that it has additional electrons. However, it is also required to be neutral like boron. It can be neutral by giving away its additional electrons.
How Sun Plays its Role in Solar Panels?
Phosphorous gets rid of its additional electrons by the help of sun. Sunlight strikes the cell that excites the electrons. For example, if electron is a baby in the arms of her mom as they reach the park. The kid can’t wait to get out of his mom’s arms and wants to set on the swing. The electrons of the phosphorous leave it and move towards the positive boron, generating an electrical pressure by entering into the gap. It is important to release this pressure and it can be released through the wiring of the cell. This process generates a flow or current. The solar cells are coated with materials to make sure that sunlight is fully absorbed and cannot escape. The wafers of silicon are wired together and they are encased in tempered glass and aluminum to prevent that wafer from the weather impacts. Finally, they are called as panels. These panels are wired together to form arrays. This is the basic building block of solar units or panels. On the whole, sunlight is collected by these solar panels and it is then converted into renewable energy.
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