• Question: what are solar panels made out of

    Asked by Megan to Ross, Hussain on 18 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Hussain Jaffery

      Hussain Jaffery answered on 18 Nov 2015:

      Great question. Solar panels are made of some sort of crystal of silicon. Silicon is the same element that microchips, and sand are made out of.

      For the solar panel to absorb light (photons) and convert it into electricity (flowing electrons), there have to be some quantum mechanical effects that take place in the silicon!

      This is a really fast-moving area of research. There are even ways of not just capturing the light, but the heat of the sun, and scientists are constantly trying to make this a more efficient way of capturing energy. The only problem is that it is currently too expensive. However, if there are new discoveries made in better types of solar panels we could live in a carbon-pollution-free world.

      Here’s hoping! 🙂

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