Solar Cells

SHARDA UNIVERSITYPRESENTATION

ON:-

Solar Cell

PRESENTED BY-

Abhiraj Bohra B.Tech (ECE-A)

11SETECE019

What is a solar cell ?A solar cell (also called photovoltaic 

cell) is a  electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic 

effect.

Solar cell

Groups of solar cells can be packaged into modules, panels and arrays to provide useful

output voltages and currents to provide a specific power output

Basic structure of a SOLAR CELL

A = Glass cover B = Anti reflective coating C = Contact grid

D = N-type Silicon E = P-type silicon F = Back contact

n-type semiconductor

p-type semiconductor

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Operation of a solar cells

Depletion Zone

When light hits the cell

When light, in the form of photons, hits our solar cell, its energy frees electron-hole pairs.

Each photon with enough energy will normally free exactly one electron, and result in a free hole as well. If this happens close enough to the electric field, the field will send the electron to the N side and the hole to the P

side. This causes further disruption of electrical neutrality, and if we provide an external current path, electrons will flow through the path to their original side (the P side) to unite with holes. The electron flow provides the current,

and the cell's electric field causes a voltage.

Solar cell - converts light energy to electricity

Light energy

Electrical energy (carried through wires)

Solar Cells are Converters of Energy…

Solar cells can only absorb specific wavelengths of light.

A certain wavelength of lights gets absorbed depends on its

energy

Light with energy greater than the band gap energy of Si is

absorbed