Photovoltaics convert sunlight into electricity through a process that occurs at the atomic level. You have seen them on roofs and on calculators, but how do solar cells actually work? We explain briefly how solar cells, otherwise known as photovoltaics actually work.
This process involves a few basic steps:
- Absorption of light: Photovoltaic cells, also known as solar cells, are made of semiconductor materials that absorb photons (light particles) emitted by the sun.
- Generation of electron-hole pairs: When light reaches the photovoltaic cell, the energy from the photons creates electron-hole pairs at the p-n junction, a boundary between two types of semiconductor materials.
- Separation of charges and creation of electric current: The electrons and holes are separated by an electric field, causing the electrons to flow, which creates an electric current.
Capture and transfer of electrical current: The electric current is then captured and transferred to wires that can be used for various applications such as powering your home or your car.