How Solar Cells Work

The detail of how a solar photovoltaic cell (PV) works to produce electricity from sunshine. Doping of semiconductor such as silicon is explained. The history of the creation of the first solar cells. All of the details in a cell including n-type, p-type, depletion region, electron diffusion, creation of ion-electron pairs explained including an analogy to children in a park. Engineering and color of the cells.

[@killianoshaughnessy1174]

" *squeak* *squeak* *squeakity~squeak* " ~ Dry Marker 2019 Brilliant lecture, to say the least. Thanks for posting this!

[@squiggle9291]

Squeakity~squeak For some reason that made me chuckle 😀

[@jamesroyle6888]

The analogy of electrons as children is genius. You can't predict where they'll be, and you only know where they are when you observe them.

[@randyhavener1851]

David you are one of the most gifted lecturers I have ever heard. Thank you!

[@ApertureSCAEC2]

Seeing someone as enthusiastic as you about everything that you teach is something that is extremely rare. The genuine enthusiasm goes a long way in how much the information is absorbed by the listener. Also your excellent use of illustrations makes an immeasurable difference

[@squiggle9291]

This is one of the most underrated channels on KZbin.. great content and delivered in a way that keeps us interested. Keep up the good work Squiggz 👍

[@koenth2359]

Best and most complete (non-quantum) explanation I have heard so far! (And I've seen quite some, ever since I studied physics some 35 years ago.) The concept is not very easy to wrap your head around, and most teachers explain that the charges move from n-layer to the p-layer because they 'want to be there' , 'fit in the holes' or there is 'more room for them in the lattice' or whatever. But those are only confusing ideas and would not explain anything, because then that propensity to go there could be described by a potential by itself. The adult/children analogy was excellent: it is essential to explain that the charge difference is caused by diffusion, and is a statistical phenomenon: just due to density difference of free electrons, there is more probability to move from high density region to the low density region. That sheer fact makes it plausible why they would move even against a slight potential difference. And for the same reason they will diffuse more likely from the n-layer into in the metal electrode grid than from the intrinsic layer to the metal bottom plate, even though the n-layer and metal grid have a slightly higher potential than the intrinsic layer and the bottom plate. That electrons freed in the depletion zone follow the potential gradient is also understandable.

[@user-fx7pj3sk1r]

Very simple and clear explanation ....I wish all teachers were like this

[@seanhogan317]

Top Class Explanation: Well Done

[@ryanjones7681]

Squeaky Marker is at lvl 9000 in this video. Science!!!

[@timobatana6705]

Good thing its not over

[@manishmahanta3065]

Such a wonderful explanation! Can we not ignore the sound of the marker😫

[@morkovija]

We've been blessed...with KNOWLEDGE!

[@kennethkustren9381]

Many people believe that. KNOWLEDGE IS A GIFT OF YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER. THE GIFT IS GODS BLESSING... CONSCIOUSNESS. THE GIFT YOU SHARE... MAYBE... IS ... MEEKNESS.... !! KNOWLEDGE LEARNED, AND TAUGHT TO THE IGNORANT. www.holoscience.com www.plasmauniverse.info www.safireproject.com www.thunderbolts.info www.varchive.org #ENDISLAM

[@UBEnergy1872]

Thank you Sir; very much! I've watched about 4 videos explaining this phenomenon and each one gives me a new layer of understanding. I particularly enjoyed the deeper Physics-based understanding of yours. And the way you built the story helps take a novice from ignorance to knowledge. Keep it up!

[@juanhauke8978]

Great simple explanation, always wondered how solar panels worked. Thanks!

[@evvveeeeeeee]

I want this man's autograph

[@ThePooba26]

This teacher is excellent. Im watching this all for fun and i love it.

[@remusshah7565]

Thank you for the lucid explanation!

[@antoniomaglione4101]

I liked very much your analogy for explaining the potential barrier of the semiconductor junction. Thank you...

[@AntonioCunningham]

This makes me miss my science classes. I love the course, hated the classmates.

[@landurearnaud1677]

Top notch teacher.

[@ChipterLP]

That short montage at the beginning was amazing

[@mhamma6560]

How often do people ask you how you can write backwards so well..... while also believing you're left handed....

[@meowmix271]

Another fantastic video!

[@ristopaasivirta9770]

Thank you for the awesome new content!

[@rahulbhuria6743]

Well explained.

[@qpn6ph9q]

This is a rerun but I'll watch it again anyway

[@thedankside2552]

Finally a new upload

[@Tobisss123]

Amazing explanation, as usual on this channel. :)

[@mwnciboo]

Those ties....love 'em

[@vedantkakde3273]

Crystal clear

[@TheBrendonKasa]

Learning is awesome college is not. Thanks for helping me learn this stuff!

[@lightdark00]

It seems you hinted upon the characteristics of probably all solar cells that if fed electricity they can produce light, abet a dull one. Also I never realized solar cells and LEDs are a portion of an n-type transistor.

[@kosbebot6360]

Respek for science has returned D:

[@johnaugsburger6192]

Thanks

[@morkovija]

Pen squeaking hurts my very soul tho )

[@tomr6955]

It might be because you're 1.5x playing it ha ha

[@pugboi8017]

Very interesting. Does anyone know how doping works for the silicon atom? I know boron can also be used, just elements with either +/- 1 electron. But not too sure on the technical details of doping. Do you just throw them together and drive a reaction with heat?

[@kieranhindshaw6195]

Illinois EnergyProf can you recommend any videos regarding the basics of electricity? Things like Coloumb, Volt, Amper, Watt and Ohm

[@daveb5041]

*You should take the popping noises in the beginning and match them to a beat, use it with drum sounds and make an intro song* That's what it sounds like, its about to be rhymical but then it stops.

[@saarangsahasrabudhe8634]

Will you a video on Ocean energy sources i.e. Wave, Tidal & OTEC? It will teach me and others to have some healthy skepticism in energy technology.....

[@nigel933]

Will there be a follow up on battery development. You mentioned in the past that gen 4 nuclear power generators were exciting but 30-40 years away. Any clues/guesses on how battery development for wind and solar might develope in that same time frame?

[@chipworrell6025]

I.E.P. is awesome...

[@akarthikshan3474]

Great lecture! But that marker noise is annoying

[@Azerkeux]

Your intro explosions remind me of id Software's intro/logo theme in "Quake 2"

[@magnitudematrix2653]

Graphene would be amazing for solar. I don't see why we cant use a laser to bake GRAPHENE onto a substrate one atom thick. You should be able to tune the laser to do that. Use a methane atmosphere to increase surface area then zap it onto your substrate. May solve the production issue as well. Try it.

[@ralphwiser5465]

Do we know how they shoot this? Is he writing backwards onto that glass? Or do they mirror the video for right-way-around text?

[@Haren94]

The lecture makes it seem that after continued exposition there should be an imbalance in the charge between the layers. You obviously don't need to reset the solar panels, so I'm curious as to how is it done.

[@andrewmulqueen5877]

Nice new intro :}

[@drjonathancbennett]

Excellent explaination... But, that's just part of the story. The phosphorus (n-type, electron rich, negative) emitter region of the cell is half of the story. An explanation of the p-type, electron depleted, positive, electron recipient potion of the cell would complete the story...

[@crimsonhalo13]

Meanwhile, that sun is quietly thinking to itself in Korean, "Oppan Gangnam style!"

[@mattbartley2843]

I thought that if photons can break electrons away, it's called "ionizing radiation", and that that's the realm of radioactivity and X-rays and gamma rays. IIRC typical silicon solar cells operate on visible light and often even infrared light, which is far lower photon energy than X-rays or gamma rays. So what's the ionizing / non-ionizing distinction? I remember once walking past a construction area, with the usual signs on the fence advertising the contractors involved, and I remember an amusing sign that said something like: " Solar, knocking electrons into higher energy states since ."

[@RoosterG33rs]

god damn, you glorious bastard.

[@walterkersting1362]

Makes me want to put some solar cells atop my trailer and rig an inverter to it.

[@amilom007]

is this video flipped left to rigth ?

[@alrun1836]

16:03 that looks like the site I worked on in California.

[@ShnazGaming]

Guys, while watching this video I think there is a bird in my house. I can hear it chirping. Dang thing is taunting me. Great video though. Now to destroy this mean bird I can't find!

[@vahagnmelikyan2906]

What will happen if silicone is dopped with uranium. Wouldn't it turn into super solar panel. Like you have combined solar and uranium radiation energy causing electron flow..

[@walterkersting1362]

Those things can shock the piss outaya.

[@SilentSalad]

What is an ion? How does sunlight split it from the electron?

[@ryanthood]

A neutral atom spits into an ion and an electron. The electron has a negative charge, the ion has a positive charge. An ion consists of the atomic nucleus (neutrons and protons) as well as any remaining electrons.

[@humbleevidenceaccepter7712]

Now when I look at a solar array, I don't see a bunch of static panels, but a bazilion electrons moving about.

[@davidlanham99]

This guy can write backwards too well.

[@Bob_Lob_Law]

See how he writes with his left hand? I'm not 100% certain but I'm pretty sure he is in fact right handed. He is writing with his right hand, and the backwards footage will get horizontally flipped in post production. That way the writing appears properly, but his hands are flipped.

[@TheJTcreate]

@@Bob_Lob_Law You are right. In lectures, he writes with his right hand.

[@GoldSrc_]

I used to think that, but the magic was ruined when I found out that he just writes on a glass window and then flips the video.

[@Stefan_trekkie]

@@GoldSrc_ You can always use your crowbar to set the things straight !

[@williamcraig6377]

The problem I always have with mobile electrons is, I always forget where I put them.

[@vahagnmelikyan2906]

OK I see, it's not am excess of electron, but " a free electron " it can move around, but once goes too far the positive phosphorus pulls it back.

[@leodikinis7390]

Great presentation Doc!! I think you might be in the running for the ugliest tie awards...

[@sebsmith5100]

Listened to this in the background and am still looking for the rat that I knew I heard squeaking.

[@rtdietrich]

When we set up dark or even black solar cells in the desert, which itself is bright and therefore reflects a lot of sunlight.... don't we contribute to global warming by absorbing more light?

[@icthulu]

Oil your markers, that thing squeaks something fierce.

[@GoldSrc_]

That's the sound of knowledge coming from that marker.

[@walterkersting1362]

The thing about alternative energy is the way they lie every time they quote Cody per kWh.

[@thekaiser4333]

Pop goes the weasel.

[@Fadamor]

But.... why are the PV cells blue? You asked the question but you never answered that. Yes, logically they SHOULD be black so why aren't they? Is it related to the texturing of the PV surface area to increase said surface area? Are the microscopic peaks and valleys in the (normally black) material somehow allowing light from the blue spectrum to be reflected rather than absorbed? Or is the textured surface actually reflecting a different wavelength of light and slowing it down so that it shifts to the blue wavelength (simulating a doppler shift)? Enquiring minds want to know! :-)

[@austinbilotto5397]

We can explain the diffusion of electrons and use energy from the sun to power our cell phones but we cant figure out the marker squeak😂

[@MrAramman]

wow 53 min ago

[@modernmonopoly575]

👩🏽‍🚀

[@Theo2482]

Is he Charlie Sheen?

[@dramtoet1809]

Love these videos but the sound of the pen on the glass is atrocious.

[@lightdark00]

You can add a equalizer to your device and see how much you have to cut out to remove that sound. Really they could clean up that sound themselves or have markets/the glass surface that don't squeak.

[@MeaHeaR]

Rémóté Plaiçeseseseses

[@JohnAdorjan]

1

[@ronaldgarrison8478]

Oh great, so we get the same video with two different titles. Just wasted at least 10 minutes checking that out. This kind of thing frankly pisses me off. Don't mess with the titles of videos once you upload them.

[@ozziesheppard17]

Nothing like a bunch of mothers sitting in the park with a keg of beer- It is a great video otherwise!

[@maxpower6918]

Unwatchable due to cringing teeth on edge squeaking marker.