How solar cells work?

Solar cells are semiconductor components, which directly convert light into electricity due to the photoelectric effect. This phenomenon was discovered in 1839 Edmond Becquerel, but it lasted over a hundred years, kým sa prvý polovodičový solárny článok podarilo zhotoviť. It happened in Bell Labs of the year 1954.

A semiconductor solar cell consists of layers with different properties. The basic material of a typical cell is silicon doped with a small amount of boron, thereby forming a P layer. The thin front layer is doped with phosphorus, thereby forming an N layer.

At rest, there is a space charge area between the two layers, in which there are no conductive particles, which resembles a conventional semiconductor diode. A solar cell is basically such a diode, but much larger.

Incident photons (light particles) electrons are released on the N layer. If the energy of the photons is large enough, the electrons cross the barrier. This directed movement of electrons is actually an electric current.

The front contact surface of the solar cell is usually formed by a fine grid, so that photons can pass through it. Rear, bearing, the contact surface is made of foil. The voltage produced by one cell is approximately 0.6V (it doesn't sound familiar to you?), but in practice the articles are connected in series, to achieve a higher output voltage.