How Solar Power Works | Can PV Cells Run Out of Electrons?
4 min read
The to start with installment of the “How Solar Electrical power Works” sequence bought some excellent responses, but a single of the thoughts we bought was so very good I felt like we experienced to generate up the respond to. So, prior to we get on to portion 2, I’d like to response Tim’s fantastic concern, “Why doesn’t the silicon in PV modules run out of electrons? There seems to be an countless supply of electrons that are freed up when daylight hits the panels.”
So excellent, suitable?
The problem focuses on the photoelectric influence, which I ham-fistedly explained as follows:
That “photovoltaic” or “photoelectric influence” occurs on an atomic level. That signifies that when a tremendous-small photon hits an atom in just the correct way, the atom absorbs a photon and releases (or, “sheds”) an electron. The movement of electrons is— you guessed it!— electrical power.
What Tim caught makes sense. If there are a constrained quantity of electrons “orbiting” an atom— which we all acquired in Ms. Wentworth’s 8th quality actual physical science course, ideal?— wouldn’t the PV cell finally operate out of electrons to lose?
The brief solution is: no.
The lengthier answer can be answered two methods. The initially way is to clarify that there are “cost-free electrons” roaming all over out there, which aren’t tethered to an atomic nucleus. When an atom sheds an electron, which is negatively charged, the electron-significantly less atom is left with a favourable cost. And, because “opposites attract” is a really actual thing, that positively charged atom (named a “cation”) will then draw in a free of charge electron in get to return to its most stable condition: electrical neutrality.
Now, “because: cost-free electrons” could be an suitable respond to for most people— and, don’t get me mistaken, it’s a genuine answer— it is not the finest reply to that concern.
The finest respond to has to do with circuits. Especially, shut circuits.
“So,” you might be inquiring, “what’s a circuit?”
In basic terms, a circuit is a complete path all around which electrical power can stream. It will have to contain a resource of electric power (ex.: a battery or, as in our circumstance, a PV cell), and conducting substance (a “conductor”) that will let electricity to go by means of them easily. The conductor is then hooked up to the optimistic and detrimental finishes of the energy source (terminals) and electrons can get started to circulation. Every single electrical circuit you’ve ever seen (that operates) is designed just like this: as a loop.
Here’s two examples of a straightforward from the Encyclopedia Brittanica (Who understood that was still a issue!?).
When the loop is “open” (light-weight change off), there’s no electric power flowing. When the loop is “closed” (light-weight swap on), electric power flows. Lightbulbs light. Speakers speak. Cars automobilate (?). And so forth.
Retain all that in intellect as I use it future to the concept of solar energy. As we talked over in portion 1, what we get in touch with “solar power” is genuinely negatively billed electrons remaining knocked out of an atom by a passing particle of light (or, “photon”), but that electron doesn’t just zoom off into area (commonly). It travels by means of the conductor in the similar way that electrons in a battery do.
As I put it to Tim, “to be valuable, the solar cells have to be portion of a greater loop (circuit) of electricity. Think of a battery circuit with a + and -, the electrons move ‘out’ of the damaging facet and ‘in’ to the favourable aspect, so a single electron leaving the atom leaves it positively billed, so it will entice a free of charge electron (which is negatively charged) which successfully fills the ‘hole’ left by the shifting a single. Then a photon comes in and knocks it out, and so on., etcetera. The electrons keep in the circuit, and the strength from the sun’s gentle pushes them alongside.”
If that helps make sense to you: huzzah!
If you nonetheless will need some visual aides, this graphic, underneath, from Mammoth Memory, does a excellent occupation illustrating the movement of a single electron by way of a circuit. As you search at it, attempt to remember that it is the exact same battery on each ends of the graphic.
Acquired it? Great! Now we can shift on to part 2, for realz.
Primary content from CleanTechnica impression courtesy National Science Basis.



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