How a solar panel makes electricity
In short: Light frees electrons in a silicon cell, and the cell's built-in field pushes them round a circuit.
1. Light falls on a solar cell, usually made of silicon. 2. Light absorbed in the cell frees electrons. 3. The electric field of the cell's p–n junction pushes the electrons one way. 4. The moving electrons form an electric current through a circuit. 5. The cell has turned light directly into electricity.
Sources: Wikipedia, “Photovoltaic effect (Wikipedia)” (CC BY-SA 4.0); Wikipedia, “Solar cell (Wikipedia)” (CC BY-SA 4.0). Illustrative, not to scale.
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Sources
- Source: Wikipedia: Photovoltaic effect (Wikipedia) · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Also: Solar cell
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