Photovoltaic Solar Cells

Introduction to photovoltaic solar cells

The first practical photovoltaic solar cell was made by selenium in 1954. This photovoltaic solar cell could convert only 1% of solar energy into electricity. Now these days, solar cells are usually produced from the semiconductor materials, such as silicon and gallium. Semiconductors are the materials, which do not allow to pass electricity at the normal conditions. The conductivity of the semiconductors increases appreciably if certain types of impurities are added. This addition of impurities is called doping.

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Photovoltaic Solar cell


A device, which converts sunlight directly into electricity, is called a solar cell. The semiconducting material to which a small quantity of a specific impurity is added is called doped semiconductor material. For example, when a small quantity of arsenic is added to ultrapure silicon, the silicon so obtained is termed as doped silicon. The conductivity of such semiconductor materials increases when light falls on them and a potential difference is developed between the two points in the semiconductor material. This cause a flow of a electric current. A single silicon solar cell of about 4 squared centimeter develops a potential difference of about 0.5 volt at 60 milliampere current. Due to this reason the solar cell is also called as photovoltaic cell. A single solar cell produces very small current at a small potential difference. So, in practice, we use a large number of solar cells connected together. This combination of a large number of solar cells is called a solar cell panel. A solar cell panel can provide stronger currents under high potential difference. Photovoltaic solar cells gained much importance in the last few decades due to the following reasons:

(i) The fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum etc are depleting very fastly, whereas the photovoltaic solar cells are renewable sources of energy.

(ii) Combustion of fossil fuels produce high air pollution and leads to green house effect whereas photovoltaic solar cells does not produce any type of pollution.

(iii) It is an energy source that is inexpensive.

(iv) These are used in remote areas very easily.

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Uses of Photovoltaic Solar Cells


(i) Photovoltaic solar cells are used in street lighting in rural areas.

(ii) Photovoltaic solar cells are used for operating water pumps for domestic and agricultural purposes.

(iii) Photovoltaic solar cells are used in satellites.

(iv) Photovoltaic solar cells are used to operate TV and other electrical appliances in our daily life.