How Does a Solar Cell Produce Electricity?

Solar power is an emerging technological development in the energy industry. Its basic function is to harness the power of the sun and turn it into electricity. At the core of all solar energy systems is the solar cell, also known as the photovoltaic cell, and it is this that actually produces the electricity.

A solar cell is made of a glass surface that protects its insides from wind, rain and other potentially damaging elements. Beneath that is a layer of conductive metal-based strips, which conduct energy to wires that lead outside the cell to power the house. Below that is a layer of coating that is intended to prevent the reflection of the sun's light. That sits on top of two layer of crystalline silicon, both of which have impurities infused into them. The top layer has impurities made of phosphorous, while the bottom layer has additives made of boron. All of these layers rest upon a plate of backing material, usually made of metal.

The sun's light generates particles called photons, and when they strike a solar cell, these photons are absorbed by the crystalline silicon layer, where electrons are freed and passed through. The electrons in the top phosphorous layer of silicon automatically pass down into the boron layer. This causes the meeting point between the boron and phosophrous-enhanced silicon layers to become negatively charged, while the phosphorous layer itself becomes positively charged. The electrons bounce back up into the phosphorous layer and through the metal strips. This results in electricity which can be harnessed for normal use.

An individual solar cell produces very little electricity on its own. As a result, they are placed together in large groups, forming what's called a solar panel. These solar panels can be small enough to power a calculator or large enough to sit on a rooftop and power home appliances.