Solar silicon is necessary in order for photovoltaic or solar cells to work. This means that light energy can be harnessed and then converted in to electricity or other types of power. This type of energy production is highly desirable as it is renewable and environmentally friendly.

Many homes will supplement their power with solar panels and new buildings tend to have solar panels designed into the power structure. You can save a lot of money on your electricity bills by incorporating solar power into your home or building. You also are eligible for substantial tax rebates by using a source of renewable energy.

Much of the current work in solar energy is looking into creating high efficiency cells. So you get the maximum conversion between sunlight and watts produced. The best types of semiconductors are monocrystalline solar cells though this only has a conversion rate of about 30%. You also will get a complete return on your investment within a year or two depending on the size of your solar system.

The silicon is the key to the solar cell as this is where the energy conversion occurs. Light can do three different things when it hits the silicon layers it can be reflected off the surface, be absorbed into the silicon or pass through the silicon.

The solar silicon is what creates the electric field and three different things can occur when the light hits the silicon; the light can be absorbed in to the silicon, it can be reflected off the silicon or it can pass through the silicon. What is desired is for the light to be absorbed by the silicon. The light causes electrons to move and be channeled which produces a current and electric field.

This solar cell works because there are two types of silicon layers that make a p-n junction. Basically an n layer of silicon which is the side that the light hits, is on top of a p layer which has a low electron concentration. When the light hits the n layer passes the electrons to the n layer making an electric field.

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