Eli5, How the hell do solar panels work?

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And no don’t say “cells generate electricity” Yes I know that, but what chemical or whatever process makes it that sunlight is converted to electricity?

I have been wondering this all my life an no matter how much research I do I can’t seem to find the answer, every place just says that some cells inside the panels is what generates electricity, but not how those cells do it

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Anonymous 0 Comments

It’s due to the **photovoltaic effect.** Certain materials absorb energy from incoming photons, and that extra energy creates a voltage (which is really just a difference in electrical energy between two connected areas).

(Note: this is a very ELI5 explanation, and there are likely a few physicists gritting their teeth at it.)

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