Energy education photovoltaic effect

What is the photovoltaic effect?

The photovoltaic effect is a process that generates voltage or electric current in a photovoltaic cell when it is exposed to sunlight. It is this effect that makes solar panels useful, as it is how the cells within the panel convert sunlight to electrical energy. The photovoltaic effect was first discovered in 1839 by Edmond Becquerel.

Where does the photovoltaic effect occur?

The photovoltaic effect occurs in solar cells. These solar cells are composed of two different types of semiconductors - a p-type and an n-type - that are joined together to create a p-n junction. To read the background on what these semiconductors are and what the junction is, click here.

Why is efficiency a design concern for photovoltaic cells?

Efficiency is a design concern for photovoltaic cells, as there are many factors that limit their efficiency. The main factor is that 1/4 of the solar energy to the Earth cannot be converted into electricity by a silicon semiconductor.

Who discovered the photovoltaic effect?

The photovoltaic effect was first discovered in 1839 by Edmond Becquerel. When doing experiments involving wet cells, he noted that the voltage of the cell increased when its silver plates were exposed to the sunlight. The photovoltaic effect occurs in solar cells.

What is photovoltaics & how does it work?

Photovoltaics is the process of converting sunlight directly into electricity using solar cells.

What are the properties of a photovoltaic material?

The key property of a photovoltaic material is to convert light energy to electric current. This conversion takes place due to the photovoltaic effect - a physical phenomenon in a semiconductor, which we are going to discuss next.