Silicon Solar Panel – The Most Affordable Semiconductor Material

There are many kinds of materials available today to construct solar panels out of. The truth is that a silicon solar panel, and the variety of forms it comes in, is still the most reliable solar cell material. Also, it remains the most affordable semiconductor material available today. The development of third-generation technology is occurring today, but substances used for the first-generation models are still being refined in the on-going effort to perfect consumer solar panels.

The reasons behind the fact that the silicon solar energy panel is still king are that silicon is found in abundance and is highly proficient at what it does. The development of the first models of silicon solar panels into more modern versions has included the reduction of the silicon wafer size to half as thick with a lifespan that is twice as long. The efficiency in creating these cells has increased as well. Back when they were new, the energy required to produce a silicon solar panel was greater than what it could produce in its lifetime. Now, however, with a combination of more efficient means of producing the solar energy panel and greater energy-capturing capacity of the panels, they can match the energy cost of creating it in only one short year. This is minuscule compared to the 30-year lifespan these cells can now be expected to last.

Interestingly, pure crystalline silicon is a poor semiconductor by itself. For this reason, impurities must be included to increase the silicon solar panel’s ability to convert sunlight energy into usable electric energy. The chemistry behind combining impurities to the silicon to make it either negatively or positively charged is what allows the electrons to move, creating energy. The chemists looking into obtaining a silicon solar panel may find this interesting, but the most important thing is to figure out which kind of panel is right for you.

Second-generation solar cells are probably your best bet as first-generation are very large and cumbersome and third-generation silicon solar energy panels are still far too expensive for the standard commercial market. Second-generation silicon solar cells come in a few differing forms including amorphous silicon, micromorphous silicon and microcrystalline silicon. Each form differs slightly from the other in terms of flexibility and production costs. Reading up on the scientific technicalities can be overwhelming, so leave it to the scientists. What should matter to you as a consumer is price and efficiency.