Tell about the concept of solar cell?
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Answer:
A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is a semiconductor device that converts photons (light) into electricity. Fundamentally, the device needs to fulfill only two functions: photogeneration of charge carriers (electrons and holes) in a light-absorbing material, and separation of the charge carriers, preferably to a conductive contact that will transmit the electricity. This conversion is called the photovoltaic effect, and the field of research related to solar cells is known as photovoltaics.
A solar cell, made from a polycrystalline silicon waferThe most common configuration of this device, the first generation photovoltaic, consists of a large-area, single layer p-n junction diode, which in the presence of sunlight is capable of generating usable electrical energy. These cells are typically made using a silicon p-n junction. However, successive generations of photovoltaic cells are currently being developed that may improve the photoconversion efficiency for future photovoltaics. The second generation of photovoltaic materials is based on multiple layers of p-n junction diodes. Each layer is designed to absorb a successively longer wavelengths of light (lower energy), thus absorbing more of the solar spectrum and increasing the amount of electrical energy produced. The third generation of photovoltaics is very different from the other two, and is broadly defined as a semiconductor device which does not rely on a traditional p-n junction to separate photogenerated charge carriers. These new devices include dye sensitized cells, organic polymer cells, and quantum dot solar cells.
Solar cells have many applications. They are particularly well suited to, and historically used in, situations where electrical power from the grid is unavailable, such as in remote area power systems, Earth orbiting satellites, handheld calculators, remote radiotelephones and water pumping applications. Solar cells (in the form of modules or solar panels) on building roofs can be connected through an inverter to the electricity grid in a net metering arrangement.
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photo electic effect i guess.
It is a device which converts solar energy to electrical energy the underlying law of Physics being the law of conservation of energy
Solar cell actually falls under the category photo conductive devices.its an ordinary semiconductor probably a pn junction diode.due to thermal breakdown of lattice majority carriers on both sides of the diode cross the junction and give rise to current in external circuit.however if you connect it to an external dc source it becomes a cell, a photo voltaic cell.
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