Solar Photovoltaic Cells (PV Cells)

Home	Basics of Electronics	History of Electronics	Electronics Terms	Soldering in Electronics	Electronic Circuits
Electronic PCB Assembly Machines & Tools	Electronic Components	Electronic / Electrical Materials & Consumables	Consumer Electronics	Electronic Companies	PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
Electronics Articles	Electronics News	Electronics Videos	Electronics Images	Electronics Q&A

Electronics >> Solar Energy >> Solar Photovoltaic Cells

Solar Photovoltaic Cells

Photovoltaics (PV) are an array PV solar cell. These PV cells are made up of solar photovoltaic material that converts solar radiation into direct current (DC) electricity.

Materials used for photovoltaics include monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, microcrystalline silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium selenide /sulfide.

How Photovoltaic System Works?

A photovoltaic cell is the smallest and basic building block of a photovoltaic system. These cells vary in size ranging from about 0.5 inches to 4 inches.

A single photovoltaic cell can produce about 1 to 2 watts of electricity. This energy is too less for use in any household or for a commercial purpose.

In order to increase the output of electricity, several photovoltaic cells are electrically connected together to form a photovoltaic panel or photovoltaic module.

These photovoltaic panels / photovoltaic modules are further electrically connected to form a photovoltaic array. The number of modules connected to form an array depends on the amount of solar electrical energy needed.

Sunlight is composed of photons, or particles of solar energy. When sunlight strikes a solar cell, electrons get loose and move toward the treated front surface of the cell thus creating holes. When many electrons, each carrying a negative charge, travel toward the front surface of the cell, it creates an imbalance of electrons. When the two surfaces (front and back surface of the photovoltaic cell) are joined by a connector, say a copper wire, electricity is generated.

Introduction to Solar Photovoltaics (Video)

Solar Photovoltaic Cell