WHAT IS A PHOTOVOLTAIC

EFFECT?
 The Photovoltaic effect is the creation of
voltage and electric current in a material
upon exposure to the light and is a physical
and chemical phenomenon.
 Photovoltaic effect is the basic process in
which a solar cell converts sunlight into
electricity.
 Photovoltaic effect is related to the
photoelectric effect.
 DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN PHOTOVOLTAIC AND
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
 In the photoelectric effect, the electrons are emitted
into a vacuum space whereas, in photovoltaic effect,
the electrons directly enter another material upon
emission.

 The occurrence of the photoelectric effect is more

difficult when compared to the photovoltaic effect.

 The emitted electron via the photovoltaic effect are

pushed through a junction potential in contrast to
the photoelectric effect where there is no junction
potential involved.
 HISTORY
 In 1839, while experimenting with an electrolytic cell
made up of two metal electrodes, French
experimental physicist named Edmund Becquerel,
only nineteen years old at the time, discovered that
when exposing certain materials to sunlight he could
generate a weak electrical current. He explained his
discovery in Comptes rendus de I’Académie des
csiences, “ the production of an electric current
when two plates of platinum or gold immersed in an
acid, neutral, or alkaline solution are exposed in an
uneven way to solar radiation.”
HOW DO PHOTOVOLTAICS
WORK?
 Photon strike and ionize semiconductor material on the
solar panel, causing outer electrons to break free of
their atomic bonds. Due to the semiconductor
structure, the electrons are forced in one direction
creating flow of electrical current. Solar cells are not
100% efficient in crystalline silicon solar cells, in part
because only certain light within the spectrum can be
absorbed. Some of the light spectrum is reflected,
some is too weak to create electricity (infrared) and
some (ultraviolet creates heat energy instead of
electricity.
CRYSTALLINE SILICON
SOLAR CELL
TWO OTHER MAIN
TYPES OF PV
TECHNOLOGY
 THIN-FILM PV
Is a fast-growing but small part of the commercial
solar market. Many thin-film firms are start-ups
developing experimental technologies. They are
generally less efficient – but often cheaper than
crystalline silicon (c-Si )modules.
 CONCENTRATING PV
 Arrays are found primarily in the desert Southwest.
They use lenses and mirrors to reflect concentrated
solar energy onto the high efficiency cells. They
require direct sunlight and tracking system to be
most effective.