Solar energy, as a sustainable and renewable resource, has a very promising future. Anywhere sunlight reaches can effectively harness these diverse light sources. In everyday life, one of the most common applications that people encounter is solar water heaters. Many people may wonder how solar streetlights are able to emit light. It’s essential to understand that solar energy essentially behaves like electrical energy during its generation process.
Generally, solar panels are designed to capture light, and they are responsive in this regard. They can convert all light energy into electrical components, with silicon being the most common material used. Silicon, which is relatively abundant on Earth, typically possesses semiconductor properties, providing a robust foundation for solar panels and photovoltaic conversion systems.
However, pure silicon’s electrical conductivity is relatively poor, as the crystalline structure lacks freely mobile electrons to enhance conductivity. To improve this property, trace impurities are often introduced into pure silicon, gradually increasing its conductivity. This characteristic allows for the design of various conductive components. When manufacturing solar cells from silicon, different substances are usually added. When these substances are introduced, they create “holes” surrounded by four electrons, enabling further integration into the crystalline structure. Gradually, this results in increased electrical current, ultimately forming a semiconductor. It is important to note that these semiconductor coatings typically consist of multiple layers.
