Lithium-ion batteries are the most popular form of solar cells on the market today. This is the same technology used in smartphones and other high-tech batteries. Lithium-ion batteries work through chemical reactions, storing chemical energy before converting it into electricity. The reaction occurs when lithium ions release free electrons, which flow from the negatively charged anode to the positively charged cathode. This movement is facilitated and enhanced by the lithium-salt electrolyte, a liquid inside the battery that balances the reactions by providing the necessary positive ions. This flow of free electrons generates the electrical current necessary for people to use electricity.
    When you draw power from the battery, lithium ions flow back through the electrolyte to the positive electrode. At the same time, electrons move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode through the external circuit, powering the device that is plugged in. Home solar batteries combine multiple ion cells with sophisticated electronics that regulate the performance and safety of the entire solar cell system. Thus, a solar cell acts as a rechargeable battery that uses solar energy as an initial input to initiate the entire process of electricity generation.