Simple explanation of how a photovoltaic solar panel or plate works?

Photovoltaic solar panels work because of the effect that sunlight has on them. This effect is called the photoelectric effect, a name that arises from the fact that by means of photons that contain sunlight, electricity is generated.

That is to say, that an electric current is formed by electrons in motion that jump from one atom to another of the conductive material through which they travel, and that move from the negative pole to the positive pole, since having the electrons negative charge they see attracted by the positive pole.

Returning to the photovoltaic panels, these are formed by several photovoltaic cells, and each of them is composed of at least two thin sheets of silicon, separated between them by a layer of a semiconductor element.

One of these sheets is formed with elements with a lower electron charge than silicon, that is, with a lower negative charge, and therefore this sheet is the positive one (P), and another one formed with elements with a higher electron charge than silicon, that is to say with a higher negative charge, and therefore this sheet is the negative one (N).

Por otra parte, los fotones que proceden del sol y que contienen la energía adecuada, inciden sobre la superficie de la lámina P, que al interactuar con el material de dicha capa liberan electrones de los átomos de silicio, y éstos atraviesan la capa de semiconductor para llegar a la lámina N, y una vez en la lámina N no pueden volver por si solos a la lámina P.

Al acumularse electrones en la lámina N se crea una diferencia de potencial o tensión respecto a la P. Y si se unen las dos láminas (N y P) mediante dos cables conductores, unidos éstos a su vez a una carga o elemento que consume electricidad, se crea una corriente eléctrica continua que fluye desde el polo negativo al positivo. El esquema de funcionamiento lo podemos observar en el siguiente dibujo: