Solar Cells: How Physics Turns Sunlight Into Electricity

Solar cells use the photovoltaic effect to turn sunlight into electricity.
Photons from the Sun knock electrons loose in a semiconductor layer.
Silicon is the most common material used in solar cells.
A single solar cell produces only a few watts of power.
Panels combine many cells to generate useful electricity.
Solar inverters convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC).
Efficiency measures how much sunlight is turned into usable energy.
Multi-junction cells capture more of the Sun’s spectrum for higher output.
Rooftop solar and massive solar farms rely on the same physics.
Solar power is clean, renewable, and a key tool against climate change.