Solar panels work through the photoelectric effect. When light hits the semiconductors in solar panels, photons eject electrons, creating an electric current. Silicon is commonly used as the semiconductor because its crystalline structure and electron configuration make it susceptible to generating free electrons when struck by photons. Impurities added to the silicon help make its electrons more easily dislodged. The electric current produced can then be used as an electric power source for applications such as powering homes, the International Space Station, and solar-powered vehicles.

1. Chemistry of
Solar Panels
--Flynn Chen

2. The History of Solar Panels
 In 1767, a Swiss scientist named Horace-Benedict de Saussure created the
first solar energy collector
 It was not until 1839 Edmond Becquerel really founded the photoelectric
effect that truly opened the industry
 Albert Einstein came up with photoelectric effect, which laid a foundation to
solar energy
 Solar power became very popular during the WWII

3. The photoelectric effect
 Photoelectric effect contains both light’s wave-particle duality and quantum
mechanics
 Einstein thinks that light is consist of quanta, what we called photons.
 The photons can hit semiconductor particles with very large amount of energy
and eject an electron out making a hole in the electron orbit.
 And the free moving electrons in Brownian Motion create current!

4. Semiconductors
 Silicon is a very popular form of semiconductor used in solar cells.
 Notice that is has four electrons in the outer shell, it behaves like a carbon
and join hands with other four silicon atoms to form a stable crystalline
structure
 Once a impurity is added to the semiconductors, like a phosphorous atom is
added in every million of silicon atoms, the five electron outer shell made it
hard to form stable bonds and made the extra electrons more susceptible to
photons

5. And the rest……
 After a electron hole is made on the particle surface, electrons will want to
fill in the hole.
 By using electric field you can separate the electrons from where they want
to go and lead them to it forms a current.
 And then you have power, electric power

6. This will certainly help you understand
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2LJ1oSO8u4

7. Application
Solar powered
homes

8. International Space Station

9. Solar Transportations

10. Work sited
 Toothman, Jessika, and Scott Aldous. "HowStuffWorks "How Silicon Makes a Solar
Cell"." HowStuffWorks. Discovery, n.d. Web. 3 Apr.
2014.<http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/solar-cell.htm>
 Advameg, Inc, "Solar Cells - Chemistry Encyclopedia - structure, metal, equation,
The pn Junction." Chemistry: Foundations and Applications. 2011. Web. 3 Apr.
2014.<http://www.chemistryexplained.com/Ru-Sp/Solar-Cells.html>
 Helmenstine, Anne M. "Photoelectric Effect - Explanation of the Photoelectric
Effect." About.com Chemistry. About.com Chemistry, n.d. Web. 8 Apr.
2014.<http://chemistry.about.com/od/electronicstructure/a/photoelectric-
effect.htm>