Why is silicon used in solar panels instead of carbon?

[Siddharth Menon]

How does the crystalline structure of silicon make it useful in solar panels? Why is carbon not used?

 

[ZapperZ]

How does the crystalline structure of silicon make it useful in solar panels? Why is carbon not used?

Start with the most obvious. Find out the band gap size of Si versus C. Then compare the wavelength that is of interest, in this case, in the visible spectrum. Which material, do you think, will allow for an increase in conductivity when light of that wavelength range impinges on it?

Zz.

 

[M Quack]

Hint number 2: How does what Zapper wrote relate to the *crystal* structure of Si?

 

[Siddharth Menon]

Aaaaaaah alright thanks.