A solar cell is a device that converts sunlight into electricity. At the heart of a solar cell is a tiny electric field that splits negative charges from positive charges using the energy of sunlight.
The first solar cell was made in 1839 by 19-year-old Edmond Becquerel, who noticed electricity was generated by a piece of silver chloride when it was illuminated with light. It was less than 1 per cent efficient, but we have come a long way since then.
The most common type of solar cells are made from wafers of ultra-pure silicon and boron that have been infused with phosphorus in a hot furnace, coated with an antireflection coating, and then fired with metal contacts. They are typically about the size of a birthday card, but less than half a millimetre thick.
In a silicon wafer solar cell, the electric field is set up with the help of small amounts of other atoms. On one side of the wafer are some boron atoms (with one less electron than silicon) and on the other side are phosphorus atoms (with one more electron). Together they create what is called a positive-negative (p-n) junction. The p-n junction forms the electric field that is able to drive positive and negative charges apart.
When sunlight is absorbed by the solar cell an electron is knocked free inside the silicon and pushed across the wafer due to the electric field. It can then be collected by metal contacts to become usable electricity.
The conversion of sun energy into electricity takes place within modules of specially fabricated materials that make up the solar panels. In most cases, solar panels are connected to the mains power supply through a device called an inverter.
Solar panels have been installed on the rooftops of houses and other buildings in Australia since the 1970s. Currently there are more than 1.25 million small-scale solar panel systems safely and reliably delivering clean electricity across Australia.
What can you do right now?
If installing solar panels for your home or work environment is not financially possible right now, you can start on a smaller scale with generating your own power on the road.
Check out a variety of high quality, reliable and durable Portable Solar Panels and their compatible Battery Packs.
Use the sun to create power via our durable solar panels to help you power anything, anywhere.