However research is being done to make pv cells that do work with non visible spectrums such as uv and ir.
Do solar panels work on uv light.
Solar panels mostly convert visible light into electrical energy and they also can make use of almost half the infrared energy.
Why uv panels are a con job.
The energy output of the solar panel will also vary depending on the type of bulb the type of light warm or cold intensity and the wavelength of the artificial light.
The short answer is.
Traditional pv cells will not work with uv light.
Thus on top of absorbing uv light the solar panels also absorb infrared energy by these nanoantennas.
When combined with stored solar energy the nanoantennas can have higher efficiency levels than the standard solar cells.
Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units.
However their performance and energy outputs will never be as high as if they were exposed to sunlight.
For this reason we recommend using some alternative source of indoor light instead.
In fact last year a company claims to have developed fully transparent solar cells that work only in uv and ir light.
Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity.
What happens is that these nanoantennas absorb infrared energy that has been previously absorbed by the earth during the day even after the sun has set.
During the day when the sun is out solar panels convert uv light into dc electricity.
Sunlight energy that reaches the ground is around 4 ultraviolet 43 visible light and 53 infrared.
However uv light rays have a short wavelength and are more easily absorbed by the glass so they do not have as much of an affect on the solar panel.
But solar panels only use a small portion of ultraviolet.
Infrared energy is basically what the earth has absorbed from the sun even after it has set.
They re able to do this because they re made from silicone a material that produces electricity when light falls onto it.
Through these nanoantennas solar panels are able to absorb uv light and infrared energy.
Researchers at the university of california davis have published a new paper in the journal acs photonics that says anti solar panels can generate night solar electricity.
If you wish to use an ultraviolet lamp to charge solar panels or items you should be aware that uv lamps put out significantly more heat and energy than the average indoor light and maybe a safety hazard.