The solar cells are made of several thin layers of silicon. When sunlight strikes, the electrons within the cell are knocked loose. By the absorption of a photon (light particle), the negative electron gets shunted away from the silicon atom, and a positive ‘hole’ remains. The freed electron and the positive hole together are neutral.
Therefore, to be able to generate electricity, the electron and the hole need to be separated from each other. This is done by giving layers within the cell opposite charges so that the freed electrons cannot return to the positively charged holes.
When the electrical contacts on the front and rear are connected through an external circuit, the freed electrons can only return to the positively charged holes by flowing through this circuit, thus causing electricity to flow. This means that the greater the intensity of light (larger number of photons), the greater the flow of electricity.
Request A Callback Frequently Asked Questions
