How do solar panels work? These solar panels generate electricity using the same principles of electronics as chemical batteries of standard electrical outlets. Also, solar panels are what you need if you plan to switch t solar energy and with these, it’s all about the free flow of electrons through a circuit.
Basic element of solar panels
Knowing how do solar panels work may be a journey back to your Chemistry class. The basic element of solar panels is the same element that created silicon. When this is stripped of all its impurities, it will make an idea neutral platform for electron transmission. Aside from this, silicon has atomic-level properties which will make it even more attractive for solar panels creation. These silicon atoms have room for eight electrons in their outer bands but only four in their natural state. This simply means that there is room for four more electrons. If there is one silicon atom that contracts another silicon atom, each will receive the other atom’s four electrons and this will create a strong bond but there will be no positive or negative change because the eight electrons satisfy that needs of the atom. These atoms can also combine for years to result in a large piece of pure silicion and this is that material that is used to form the plates of solar panels.
Now, two plates of pure silicon will not generate electricity in solar panels because they have no positive or negative charge. Instead, solar panels are created with the combination of silicon and other elements that do have positive or negative charges.
Positive and Negative Charges
For example, phosphorus which has five electrons that it can offer to other atoms. If silicon and phosphorus are combined chemicals, it will result into stable eight electrons with an additional free electron along for the ride. It can or cannot leave because it is bonded to other phosphorous atoms but it is or is not needed by the silicon. Hence, this new silicon-phosphorous plate will be considered negatively charged.
For the electricity to flow, there should be a positive charge. This can be done in solar panels by silicon combination with an element like boron. Boron has three electrons to offer. A silicon-boron plate still has one spot left for another electron and this will mean that the plate has a positive charge. These two plates will be sandwiched together in solar panels with conductive wires between them.
Learning how do solar panels work may be a bit tricky and confusing especially if you are not into science at all. However, if you plan to put up solar panels because you wish to switch to solar energy, you must be able to understand how it works.
Now, how do solar panels work in a solar aspect is like this:
Natural sunlight send out a lot of different particles of energy but the one humans are interested in is the photon. It acts like a moving hammer. When the negative plates of solar cells are pointed at a proper angle to the sun, photons bombard the silicon/phosphorous atoms. The ninth electron wants to be free and it will be knocked off its outer ring. It won’t remain free for ling because the positive silicon.boron will draw it into the open spot on its own outer band and now, as the sun’s photons break off more electrons, electricity will be generated.