subject: Materials For Making A Solar Panel - Building Your Own Solar Cells [print this page] Materials For Making A Solar Panel Materials For Making A Solar Panel
Solar Cells convert light energy into electricity at the atomic level. For many years, the process of producing electricity through sun wasn't really understood, but throughout the 20th century the science has been refined and process has been more fully explained. As a result the cost of these devices has put them into the mainstream of modem energy producers. This was caused in part by advances in technology, where Photovoltaic solar cell's conversion efficiencies have been improved.
The most important parts of a solar cell are the semiconductor layers, this is where the electron current is created. There are a number of different materials available for making these semiconducting layers, and each has benefits and drawbacks. Unfortunately, there is no one ideal material for all types of cells and applications. Materials For Making A Solar Panel
In addition to the semiconducting materials, solar cells consist of a top metallic grid or other electrical contact to collect electrons from the semiconductor and transfer them to the external load, and a back contact layer to complete the electrical circuit. Then, on top of the complete cell is typically a glass cover or other type of transparent encapsulant to seal the cell and keep weather out, and a antireflective coating to keep the cell from reflecting the light back away from the cell. A typical solar cell consists of a cover glass, a anti-reflective layer, a front contact to allow the electrons to enter a circuit and a back contact to allow them to complete the circuit, and the semiconductor layers where the electrons begin to complete there voyages!
The solar panels, in order to generate power, are using the method of screen-printing, a technique developed for printing fabrics, paper and to produce plastic, glass and metal solar cells. The basic materials of a photovoltaic cell (solar cell) are inexpensive. The homemade solar cells have about 11/4 of the efficiency of commercial silicon solar cells, which turn 10-20 per cent of light energy into electricity. But, being cheap to produce, they can make up the loss in quantity what they lack in quality. Materials For Making A Solar Panel
Materials For Making A Solar Panel - Building Your Own Solar Cells
