A solar cell, also known as a photovoltaic (PV) cell, is a device that converts sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Solar cells are typically made from semiconductor materials, such as silicon, which have properties that allow them to generate electrical current when exposed to sunlight. ### Key Components of a Solar Cell: 1. **Semiconductor Material**: Most commonly silicon, but other materials like cadmium telluride (CdTe) and thin-film technologies are also used.
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A solar cell converts incident light into electrical power through the photovoltaic effect. A semiconductor p-n junction separates and collects photogenerated electrons and electron holes. An ideal illuminated junction has output current densityHere is the short-circuit current density, is the diode saturation current, and is the open-circuit electric potential difference. The conversion efficiency is the largest delivered divided by the incident power per unit area; the short-circuit and open-circuit operating points themselves deliver zero power.