ALT An infographic on how solar panels work.
The top half of the infographic shows a cross section of a solar panel, identifying the different layers. A typical solar panel is made up of two silicon semiconductor layers, one doped to produce holes and the other doped to produce electrons. An electric field forms between the two layers. When the layers are connected in a circuit, the electric field pushes the electrons through it, creating a current.
Silicon is the most commonly used material for solar panels. Cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium selenide are also used commercially.
In the future, solar cells produced using perovskite materials or organic polymers may become commercially successful, but they will need to overcome issues with efficiency and stability.