What is a solar cell?

Solar cell or photovoltaic cell, absorbs energy of light and converts it into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect. Most solar cells are fabricated from silicon, which has increased efficiency and lowered costs as the materials developed range from amorphous (noncrystalline) to polycrystalline to crystalline (single crystal). To produce electric power, solar cells do not use chemical reactions or fuel, and, unlike electric generators, they do not have any moving parts.

How is a solar cell made?

The most basic element used in solar cells is silicon. There is no pure form of silicon in nature. To make solar cells, silicon dioxide raw material is obtained from quartzite sand or crushed quartz, which is first placed in an electric arc furnace. A carbon arc is used to release oxygen. Thin silicon disks are used to create solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity.

These disks serve as a power source for a wide variety of applications. Including: calculators and other small devices. Telecommunications ; Roof panels of houses; For lighting, pumping and medical refrigeration. in the villages of developing countries. Solar cells in the form of large solar panels are used as a source of electricity and in rare cases to supply electricity to power plants. Solar cells made of silicon. They now offer a combination of high efficiency, low cost and long life and are expected to last 25 years or more, after which time they will still produce more than 80% of their original power.

What element is used to make a solar cell?

Silicon is a key component of solar cells. Solar cells are made of silicon rings. This type of structure is polycrystalline and has the atomic structure of a single crystal. The most common method for creating them is known as the Chukralsky method. During this process, a seed crystal of silicon is immersed in molten polycrystalline silicon. Solar cells are the most important component of solar panels. A solar panel is a device that produces electricity using sunlight. Although the production of solar panels is expensive, but due to the long lifespan of these panels, they are ultimately very affordable. To make a solar panel, solar cells (which are made of a special semiconductor material) are placed between a metal connector and a layer of non-reflective glass. The semiconductor here is designed to be sensitive to the photoelectric effect. In addition, it reacts to light by discharging a stream of electrons.

Read more about the types of solar panels and Applications of solar panels

Efficiency of solar cell

When photons hit a solar cell, they strip electrons from their atoms. If the conductors are connected to the positive and negative sides of a cell, it creates an electric circuit. Electricity is generated when electrons pass through such a circuit. A solar panel allows photons, or particles of light, to release electrons from atoms and generate electricity. Solar panels actually consist of much smaller units called photovoltaic cells. A solar cell is a device that directly converts light energy into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect. Solar cells or photovoltaic cells are made based on the principle of photovoltaic effect. They convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. Crystalline silicon cells are made of silicon atoms that are linked together to form a crystal lattice. This network provides an organized structure that makes the conversion of light into electricity more efficient.

Why is silicon used in solar cells?

Silicon is one of the optimal semiconductors used for the production of solar cells due to its superior electronic properties, optical properties, thermal properties and mechanical properties as well as environmental properties. Quartz, found abundantly in sand, is the most common form of silica. Silica is used to produce metallurgical silicon, which then undergoes various refining and refining steps to produce high-purity silicon for applications in the photovoltaic (PV) industry.

Types of solar cells

Amorphous silicon solar cell (a-Si)

Biohybrid solar cell

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cell

Condensed PV cells (CVP and HCVP)

Copper Indium Selenide (CI(G)S) Solar Cells

Crystalline silicon solar cell (c-Si)

Floating zone silicon

Solar cell output

Modern solar cells are capable of absorbing about 20% of the sun’s energy, allowing them to reach 400 watts of output. The power rating of each solar panel is determined by the combination of cell efficiency and the size of each solar panel.