Solar cell definition and photovoltaic effect

Summary

A solar cell, also called a photovoltaic (PV) cell, is an electronic device that converts light energy directly into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. It is a type of photoelectric cell whose electrical behavior (such as current and voltage) changes when exposed to light. Individual solar cells are commonly connected together to form photovoltaic modules (often called solar panels), which then combine into larger PV systems for practical power generation. The photovoltaic effect is the underlying working principle of solar cells: light is absorbed to create charge carriers (electron–hole pairs), those carriers are separated by the cell’s internal electric field, and the separated charges are extracted through external contacts to produce electrical power. Solar cells can operate under sunlight or artificial light, and their output depends on factors such as temperature, material properties, weather/irradiance, and other operating conditions.

Key Points

• 1

  A solar (photovoltaic) cell converts light energy directly into electricity via the photovoltaic effect.

• 2

  The photovoltaic effect involves light absorption to generate charge carriers, separation of opposite charges, and extraction of those charges to an external circuit.

• 3

  Solar-cell output power is influenced by conditions such as temperature, material properties, and solar irradiance/weather.