Use of Photoelectric Effect in Solar Panel

• Photovoltaic Cells: Solar panels consist of photovoltaic cells, also known as solar cells, which are typically made of semiconductor materials such as silicon. When sunlight strikes the surface of a solar cell, photons (particles of light) with sufficient energy can dislodge electrons from the atoms in the semiconductor material, creating electron-hole pairs.

• Generation of Electric Current: The dislodged electrons create an electric current when they flow through an external circuit connected to the solar panel. This flow of electrons constitutes electricity, which can be harnessed for various applications, such as powering homes, businesses, or electronic devices.

• Semiconductor Structure: The semiconductor material used in solar cells is carefully engineered to facilitate the photoelectric effect. The material has a bandgap energy that corresponds to the energy of photons in sunlight, allowing them to be absorbed efficiently. Additionally, the semiconductor structure ensures that the generated electrons and holes are separated and directed along the electrical circuit to produce a useful electrical current.

The photoelectric effect is a phenomenon in which electrons are emitted from a material when it is exposed to light or electromagnetic radiation of sufficient energy. In simpler terms, it’s when light shining on a surface causes the emission of electrons from that surface.

When a metal is exposed to light, metal emits electrons from its valence shell. This is called photoelectric effect. The real life applications of photoelectric effect is used in various optoelectronic devices, in photodiodes, photovoltaic cells etc. In this article we will learn in details about various photoelectric effects.