How does a solar cell turn light into electricity?

Answer 1

Photovoltaic cells are directly transforming solar energy to an electrical energy. Photovoltaic cells are usually used on places where it isn't possible using some other energy source, for instance on satellites, on road signs, etc. Additionally they're used for powering many of small consumers like pocket calculators.

Photovoltaic effect was discovered by French physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel (1820-1891) in the year 1839. Photovoltaic cells are built out of two layers-positive and negative, and the difference of potentials between these two layers depends upon the intensity of the solar radiation. Solar energy is coming on Earth in the shape of photons. Photons once they fall on the solar cell's, are transferring all of their energy to the panel, making it possible for negatively charged electrons to burst out of the atom. These electrons after picking up the energy from photons have enough energy to move around and are moving towards other (negative) side of the panel and this is how the difference in potentials happens and electrical energy generates. Photovoltaic cells are made up from silicon and silicon is one of the most common elements on Earth. . Although a PV array produces power when exposed to sunlight, a number of other components are required to properly conduct, control, convert, distribute, and store the energy produced by the array. A typical silicon PV cell is composed of a thin wafer consisting of an ultra-thin layer of phosphorus-doped (N-type) silicon on top of a thicker layer of boron-doped (P-type) silicon. An electrical field is created near the top surface of the cell where these two materials are in contact, called the P-N junction. When sunlight strikes the surface of a PV cell, this electrical field provides momentum and direction to light-stimulated electrons, resulting in a flow of current when the solar cell is connected to an electrical load. Photovoltaic cell or the solar cell generate electromotive force as a result of absorption of ionization radiation.solar cells convert the solar radiation directly into electricity using photovoltaics effect without going through a thermal process.