Photovoltaic effect - Revision history

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	~~[[Category:Done 2015-08-21]]~~		<onlyinclude>The '''photovoltaic effect''' is a process that generates [[voltage]] or electric [[current]] in a [[photovoltaic cell]] when it is exposed to [[sunlight]]. It is this effect that makes solar panels useful, as it is how the cells within the panel convert sunlight to [[electrical energy]].</onlyinclude> The photovoltaic effect was first discovered in 1839 by Edmond Becquerel. When doing experiments involving [[battery#Secondary cells ("wet")\|wet cells]], he noted that the voltage of the cell increased when its silver plates were exposed to the sunlight.<ref name=boyle>G. Boyle. ''Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future'', 2nd ed. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2004.</ref> The photovoltaic effect is closely related but different from the [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mod1.html#c2 photoelectric effect], (Which Einstein received a Nobel Prize for</onlyinclude><ref>NobelPrize.org, ''The Nobel Prize in Physics 1921'' [Online], Available: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1921/</ref>).
	<onlyinclude>The '''photovoltaic effect''' is a process that generates [[voltage]] or electric [[current]] in a [[photovoltaic cell]] when it is exposed to [[sunlight]]. It is this effect that makes solar panels useful, as it is how the cells within the panel convert sunlight to [[electrical energy]].</onlyinclude> The photovoltaic effect was first discovered in 1839 by Edmond Becquerel. When doing experiments involving [[battery#Secondary cells ("wet")\|wet cells]], he noted that the voltage of the cell increased when its silver plates were exposed to the sunlight.<ref name=boyle>G. Boyle. ''Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future'', 2nd ed. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2004.</ref>

	==Process==		==Process==
	~~The~~ photovoltaic effect ~~occurs in solar cells~~. These solar cells are composed of two different types of [[semiconductor]]s - a p-type and an n-type - that are joined together to create a p-n junction. To read the background on what these semiconductors are and what the junction is, click [[Diode operation\|here]]. By joining these two types of semiconductors, an [[electric field]] is formed in the region of the junction as [[electron]]s move to the positive p-side and [[electron hole\|hole]]s move to the negative n-side. This field causes negatively charged particles to move in one direction and positively charged particles in the other direction.<ref name=boyle/>		Solar cells use the photovoltaic effect to generate electricity. These solar cells are composed of two different types of [[semiconductor]]s (a p-type and an n-type) that are joined together to create a "p-n junction". To read the background on what these semiconductors are and what the junction is, click [[Diode operation\|here]]. By joining these two types of semiconductors, an [[electric field]] is formed in the region of the junction as [[electron]]s move to the positive p-side and [[electron hole\|hole]]s move to the negative n-side. This field causes negatively charged particles to move in one direction and positively charged particles in the other direction.<ref name=boyle/>

	[[Light]] is composed of [[photon]]s, which are simply small bundles of [[electromagnetic radiation]] or [[energy]]. These photons can be absorbed by a photovoltaic cell - the type of cell that composes solar panels.<ref name="RE1"/> When light of a suitable [[wavelength]] is incident on these cells, energy from the photon is transferred to an [[atom]] of the semiconducting material in the p-n junction. Specifically, the energy is transferred to the electrons in the material. This causes the electrons to jump to a higher energy state known as the [[conduction band]]. This leaves behind a "hole" in the valence band that the electron jumped up from. This movement of the electron as a result of added energy creates two [[charge carrier]]s, an electron-hole pair.<ref name=boyle/>		[[Light]] is composed of [[photon]]s, which are simply small bundles of [[electromagnetic radiation]] or [[energy]]. These photons can be absorbed by a photovoltaic cell, the type of cell that composes solar panels.<ref name="RE1"/> When light of a suitable [[wavelength]] is incident on these cells, energy from the photon is transferred to an [[atom]] of the semiconducting material in the p-n junction. Specifically, the energy is transferred to the electrons in the material. This causes the electrons to jump to a higher energy state known as the [[conduction band]]. This leaves behind a "hole" in the valence band that the electron jumped up from. This movement of the electron as a result of added energy creates two [[charge carrier]]s, an electron-hole pair.<ref name=boyle/>

	[[File:photovoltaiceffect.png\|400px\|framed\|center\|Figure 1. A diagram showing the photovoltaic effect.<ref>''Created internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Adapted from: Ecogreen Electrical. (August 14, 2015). ''Solar PV Systems'' [Online]. Available: http://www.ecogreenelectrical.com/solar.htm''</ref>]]		[[File:photovoltaiceffect.png\|400px\|framed\|center\|Figure 1. A diagram showing the photovoltaic effect.<ref>''Created internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Adapted from: Ecogreen Electrical. (August 14, 2015). ''Solar PV Systems'' [Online]. Available: http://www.ecogreenelectrical.com/solar.htm''</ref>]]

	When unexcited, electrons hold the semiconducting material together by forming bonds with surrounding atoms, and thus they cannot move. However in their excited state in the conduction band, these electrons are free to move through the material. Because of the electric field that exists as a result of the p-n junction, electrons and holes move in the opposite direction as expected. Instead of being attracted to the p-side, the freed electron tends to move to the n-side. This motion of the electron creates an electric current in the cell. Once the electron moves, there's a "hole" that is left.<ref name="RE1">Mr.Solar. (August 13, 2015). ''Photovoltaic Effect'' [Online]. Available: http://www.mrsolar.com/photovoltaic-effect/</ref> This hole can also move, but in the opposite direction to the p-side. It is this process which creates a current in the cell.<ref name=boyle/> A diagram of this process can be seen in Figure 1.		When unexcited, electrons hold the semiconducting material together by forming bonds with surrounding atoms, and thus they cannot move. However in their excited state in the conduction band, these electrons are free to move through the material. Because of the electric field that exists as a result of the p-n junction, electrons and holes move in the opposite direction as expected. Instead of being attracted to the p-side, the freed electron tends to move to the n-side. This motion of the electron creates an electric current in the cell. Once the electron moves, there's a "hole" that is left.<ref name="RE1">Mr.Solar. (August 13, 2015). ''Photovoltaic Effect'' [Online]. Available: http://www.mrsolar.com/photovoltaic-effect/</ref> This hole can also move, but in the opposite direction to the p-side. It is this process which creates a current in the cell.<ref name=boyle/> A diagram of this process can be seen in Figure 1.

			== For Further Reading ==
			* [[Photovoltaic electricity]]
			* [[Photovoltaic cell]]
			* [[Diode operation]]
			* [[Semiconductor]]
			* [[Photon]]
			* Or explore a [[Special:Random\|random page]]

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}[[Category:Uploaded]]		{{reflist}}[[Category:Uploaded]]
			[[Category:Done 2026-06-01]]

J.williams: 1 revision imported

2015-08-26T21:31:54Z

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J.williams at 18:50, 24 August 2015

2015-08-24T18:50:46Z

New page

[[Category:Done 2015-08-21]]
<onlyinclude>The '''photovoltaic effect''' is a process that generates [[voltage]] or electric [[current]] in a [[photovoltaic cell]] when it is exposed to [[sunlight]]. It is this effect that makes solar panels useful, as it is how the cells within the panel convert sunlight to [[electrical energy]].</onlyinclude> The photovoltaic effect was first discovered in 1839 by Edmond Becquerel. When doing experiments involving [[battery#Secondary cells ("wet")|wet cells]], he noted that the voltage of the cell increased when its silver plates were exposed to the sunlight.<ref name=boyle>G. Boyle. ''Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future'', 2nd ed. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2004.</ref>

==Process==
The photovoltaic effect occurs in solar cells. These solar cells are composed of two different types of [[semiconductor]]s - a p-type and an n-type - that are joined together to create a p-n junction. To read the background on what these semiconductors are and what the junction is, click [[Diode operation|here]]. By joining these two types of semiconductors, an [[electric field]] is formed in the region of the junction as [[electron]]s move to the positive p-side and [[electron hole|hole]]s move to the negative n-side. This field causes negatively charged particles to move in one direction and positively charged particles in the other direction.<ref name=boyle/>

[[Light]] is composed of [[photon]]s, which are simply small bundles of [[electromagnetic radiation]] or [[energy]]. These photons can be absorbed by a photovoltaic cell - the type of cell that composes solar panels.<ref name="RE1"/> When light of a suitable [[wavelength]] is incident on these cells, energy from the photon is transferred to an [[atom]] of the semiconducting material in the p-n junction. Specifically, the energy is transferred to the electrons in the material. This causes the electrons to jump to a higher energy state known as the [[conduction band]]. This leaves behind a "hole" in the valence band that the electron jumped up from. This movement of the electron as a result of added energy creates two [[charge carrier]]s, an electron-hole pair.<ref name=boyle/>

[[File:photovoltaiceffect.png|400px|framed|center|Figure 1. A diagram showing the photovoltaic effect.<ref>''Created internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Adapted from: Ecogreen Electrical. (August 14, 2015). ''Solar PV Systems'' [Online]. Available: http://www.ecogreenelectrical.com/solar.htm''</ref>]]

When unexcited, electrons hold the semiconducting material together by forming bonds with surrounding atoms, and thus they cannot move. However in their excited state in the conduction band, these electrons are free to move through the material. Because of the electric field that exists as a result of the p-n junction, electrons and holes move in the opposite direction as expected. Instead of being attracted to the p-side, the freed electron tends to move to the n-side. This motion of the electron creates an electric current in the cell. Once the electron moves, there's a "hole" that is left.<ref name="RE1">Mr.Solar. (August 13, 2015). ''Photovoltaic Effect'' [Online]. Available: http://www.mrsolar.com/photovoltaic-effect/</ref> This hole can also move, but in the opposite direction to the p-side. It is this process which creates a current in the cell.<ref name=boyle/> A diagram of this process can be seen in Figure 1.

==References==
{{reflist}}[[Category:Uploaded]]