Do Solar Panels Use Semiconductors?

As with many niche industries, solar technology makes perfect sense to those who work in the field and significantly less sense to outsiders. But no matter how in-the-know you are about solar technology, you’ve most likely heard of a semiconductor. 

Commonly used in solar panels and many other electronic devices, semiconductors are essential to renewable energy technology and make solar power widely accessible. You’re in the right place if you want to learn more about semiconductors’ vital role in solar power. 

What Are Semiconductors?

As the term implies, semiconductors are any material that can conduct an electric current, but only partially. The level of conductivity is between that of an insulator, which has almost no conductivity, and a conductor, like metal, which is highly conductive. 

While not exclusive to electronics, semiconductors are primarily associated with the tech industry, given their significance to electrical equipment, computers, and more. While semiconductors are constructed from various materials, silicon is the most common.

Semiconductors are useful in electronics mainly because their electrical conductivity can be controlled through electron doping. Doping refers to the intentional process of introducing other elements into a crystal, upsetting the balance of electrons and allowing for the creation of electric currents. These currents can then be used for many purposes.

The history of semiconductor discovery goes back centuries, and today, the technology is everywhere, from the EcoFlow 400W Rigid Solar Panel to the smartphone in your hand. Semiconductor technology is even present in the EcoFlow Solar Generator, which stores and makes energy accessible to you with the push of a button. 

How Are Semiconductors Used in Solar Panels?

The same logic and science apply to using semiconductors in solar panels, just like any type of electrical equipment. For example, all EcoFlow Solar Panels feature semiconductors, as do many brands of renewable energy equipment. Semiconductors are an integral part of the construction of solar cells, through which light can reflect, be absorbed, or pass through. 

When sunlight hits the semiconductor, it absorbs the light’s energy, transferring it to negatively charged electrons. This process creates an electrical current, which is extracted through highly conductive metals. Those metals can be seen on a solar panel, such as the EcoFlow 100W Rigid Solar Panel, and allow for energy transfer to power appliances and more. 

Why Are Conductors Not Used in Solar Panels?

Solar panels are made of semiconductors instead of conductors because semiconductors have the needed electronic properties to convert sunlight into electricity, while conductors do not. 

Conductor materials like metal allow electrons to move freely in random directions and do not generate electrical currents. If no electrical current is generated, there’s no energy to harvest, rendering conductors fairly useless for solar energy capture.

How Do Semiconductors Influence Solar Cells?

A solar cell, also called a photovoltaic cell, is constructed by layering two types of semiconductors, referred to as n-type and p-type silicon. The n-type has excess electrons, while the p-type has excess positively charged vacancies, allowing the electrons from the n-type layer to move into the vacancies of the p-type layer. 

When sunlight hits a PV cell, electrons in the silicon eject, forming vacancies. When the layers are connected with a metallic wire, as in solar panels, electrons create a flow of electricity that can be harvested, used, or stored. 

While most solar cells today are silicon-based, other options– including organic, carbon-based semiconductors– exist, although they‘re less efficient than silicon-based cells. If maximizing production is your concern, you can increase the efficiency of your solar panels by wiring them in the best way for your specific environment and needs. 

Semiconductor Materials Commonly Used in Solar Cells

Semiconductors are an essential aspect of solar panels, creating the opportunity for energy generation and capture for human use. An essential piece of technology for the renewable energy transition and beyond, semiconductors have received considerable attention in recent years, and researchers are continuing to investigate alternative materials that boast efficiency and affordability. 

Here are a few of the most common materials in solar cell semiconductors today.

• Crystalline silicon, featured in most silicon wafers, is the current standard for solar cells, making its way into most panels. Monocrystalline silicon refers to a single crystal, making it highly efficient but also highly expensive. Polycrystalline silicon cells are constructed from many crystals. Therefore, they are slightly less efficient but cost less than their monocrystalline counterparts.
• Cadmium telluride (CdTe) cells are the most prominent thin-film cells, boasting a comparatively low manufacturing cost and carbon footprint. However, they lack efficiency.
• Copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) is another commonly used material in thin-film PV cells. While their efficiency is promising, the cost outweighs the benefits.
• Amorphous silicon (a-Si) is constructed into panels by depositing non-crystalline silicon onto glass or plastic. While not as efficient as crystalline silicone, it is commonly used with other materials to increase efficiency.
• Perovskite is a compound with a crystal structure that resembles calcium titanium oxide. While efficiency has spiked in the last decade and production costs are low, perovskites are a fairly unstable material, degrading quickly when exposed to heat, snow, or moisture. 
• Organic solar cells (OSC) use conductive organic materials to absorb light and transport energy. While they are currently less strong than their counterparts, they’re easy to produce and inexpensive. 

Final Thoughts

While the science behind semiconductors may be tricky to understand, the significance of their impact on technological advancement is clear. Semiconductors are essential components in many of the devices, appliances, and household equipment we take for granted. However, not all semiconductors are created equally, especially for solar panels. 

When you need a reliable home solar solution to save your family money and reduce your carbon footprint in the long run, look no further than EcoFlow. Constructed with monocrystalline silicon, EcoFlow Rigid Solar Panels boast an impressive 23% conversion rate without breaking the bank. Check it out today.