Submitted by elsbeth on Tue, 2009-10-27 18:23

How does a solar cell work?

 

The process occurring in a solar cell is called photovoltaic conversion. This is how sunlight is converted into electricity. The process basically goes as follows: solar cells are made from what we call ‘semiconductor materials’, such as silicon. In these materials, light causes negatively charged electrons to be released. These electrons then move, leaving behind positively charged ‘holes’. Next, the electrons and holes move away from each other due to their opposite charges, so one side ends up with a negative charge and the other side with a positive charge.

Connecting these two sides together allows an electric current to flow, thus producing electricity. The photovoltaic process will continue as long as light is striking the cell. The power produced is DC power. The current can then be converted into alternating current using an inverter, which makes it possible to feed it directly to the power grid or to a storage battery. It is also possible to use DC power directly to drive certain devices, such as pumps.