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    Photovoltaic Systems

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    Nina Auslander
    The document summarizes how a solar panel generates electricity. Photons hitting the n-type semiconductor knock electrons loose, creating a negative charge. Phosphorus atoms in the n-type layer have extra electrons, while boron atoms in the p-type layer have "holes" from missing electrons, creating a positive charge. When the layers are joined, the electrons flow from n-type to p-type, creating a current that can power external devices.

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    Photovoltaic Systems

    Uploaded by

    Nina Auslander
    32 views1 page
    The document summarizes how a solar panel generates electricity. Photons hitting the n-type semiconductor knock electrons loose, creating a negative charge. Phosphorus atoms in the n-type layer have extra electrons, while boron atoms in the p-type layer have "holes" from missing electrons, creating a positive charge. When the layers are joined, the electrons flow from n-type to p-type, creating a current that can power external devices.

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    Solar

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    The document summarizes how a solar panel generates electricity. Photons hitting the n-type semiconductor knock electrons loose, creating a negative charge. Phosphorus atoms in the n-type layer have extra electrons, while boron atoms in the p-type layer have "holes" from missing electrons, creating a positive charge. When the layers are joined, the electrons flow from n-type to p-type, creating a current that can power external devices.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    32 views1 page

    Photovoltaic Systems

    Uploaded by

    Nina Auslander
    The document summarizes how a solar panel generates electricity. Photons hitting the n-type semiconductor knock electrons loose, creating a negative charge. Phosphorus atoms in the n-type layer have extra electrons, while boron atoms in the p-type layer have "holes" from missing electrons, creating a positive charge. When the layers are joined, the electrons flow from n-type to p-type, creating a current that can power external devices.

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    sunlight (photons) silicon’s valence electrons negative charge

    phosphorus’s valence electrons positive charge


    boron’s valence electrons
    shared valence electrons
    unbound/“extra” electron
    “hole”—lack of electron

    n-type semiconductor
    p-n junction
    p-type semiconductor

    Si P
    Si

    In order to satisfy the octet rule, a phosphorus atom


    Si
    P Si needs three additional valence electrons. However,
    silicon has four. As a result, when they bond, they
    share three valence electrons. This leaves one
    Si

    unbound electron, facilitating a negative charge.

    Si B

    In order to satisfy the octet rule, a boron atom needs


    Si

    five additional valence electrons. However, silicon has


    B Si four. As a result, when they bond, they share four
    Si
    valence electrons. This leaves one “hole” where the
    Si

    octet rule is not satisfied, facilitating a positive charge.

    sunlight (photons)

    unbound electrons in n-type layer

    “holes” in p-type layer;

    result in agitated
    n-type semiconductor
    particles
    p-n junction
    p-type semiconductor
    -

    When photons (light particles) hit the top layer of a solar panel (the n-
    -
    type semiconductor), the unbound electrons are knocked out of
    place and begin to flow through the panel’s layers and into any
    connected wires. These electrons facilitate an electric charge which
    can be used to power a variety of objects.

    DANI COOKE

    Solar Group B

    China & Energy: Spring 2018

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