Monocrystalline Silicon in Photovoltaics – Heusler MCV

Throughout history mankind has developed and advanced due to its discovery of new sources of energy such as fire and hydraulic power. Currently our advancement is hampered by the lack of new renewable energy sources that will allow us to grow while not polluting our planet. The U.S. consumes on average 18.89 million barrels of petroleum products on a daily basis. Solar energy has emerged as a potential alternative to fossil fuels, with rapid developments in the 21st century. Although there are limitations such as the need for solar exposure as well as the inability to store the electricity produced, solar cells currently provide clean energy with ever-increasing efficiency. Photovoltaics cells work due to the photoelectric effect in which certain materials absorb photons of light and release electrons. When these released electrons are captured an electric current is created. The photoelectric effect was first noted by French physicist Edmund Bequerel in 1839, but it was Albert Einstein in 1905 whose paper on the nature of light forms the basis of photovoltaic cells today. In 1908 a Carnegie Steel employee developed a solar collector that’s design is still roughly used today.
The most widely used material in modern solar cells is monocrystalline silicon. Grown using the Czochralski process, mono-Si has a continuous crystal structure free of grain boundaries, which allows it to more efficiently conduct electricity. The resulting crystal is cut into rectangular wafers which form the solar panels. Their longevity and efficiency make mono-Si cells the preferred material for capturing solar energy. Although gallium arsenide has emerged as a competitor, its high cost and novel development mean that is it currently used for research as opposed to widespread implementation. Monocrystalline silicon continues to be a forerunner in photovoltaic technology due to its uniform structure, which produces predictable behavior and decreased impurities.

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