A solar cell converts light into electricity via the photovoltaic effect. When light reaches the p-n junction of a semiconductor, electron-hole pairs are created which generate a voltage across the junction. The newly created electrons and holes are separated to the n-type and p-type sides respectively due to the junction's barrier potential, creating a small current flow if a load is connected. Common semiconductor materials used in solar cells include silicon, gallium arsenide, cadmium telluride, and copper indium selenide due to their band gaps close to 1.5 electronvolts.

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2. A solar cell, or photovoltaic
cell, is an electrical device
that converts the energy of light
directly into electricity
by the photovoltaic effect
which is a physical
and chemical phenomenon.

3.  The solar cells are based on
the principle of photovoltaic
effect.
 The generation of voltage
across the p-n junction in a
semiconductor due to the
absorption of light radiaton is
called photovoltaic effect.

4.  When light reaches the p-n junction,
the light photons can easily enter in
the junction, through very thin p-type
layer. The light energy, in the form of
photons, supplies sufficient energy to
the junction to create a number of
electron-hole pairs. The incident light
breaks the thermal equilibrium
condition of the junction. The free
electrons in the depletion. Similarly,
the holes in the depletion can quickly
come to the p-type side of the
junction. Once, the newly created free
electrons come to the n-type side,
cannot further cross the junction
because of barrier potential of the
junction.

5. Similarly, the newly created holes once
come to the p-type side cannot further
cross the junction became of same barrier
potential of the junction. As the
concentration of electrons becomes higher
in one side, i.e. n-type side of the junction
and concentration of holes becomes more
in another side, i.e. the p-type side of the
junction, the p-n junction will behave like a
small battery cell. A voltage is set up which
is known as photo voltage. If we connect a
small load across the junction, there will be
a tiny current flowing through it, n region
can quickly come to the n-type side of the
junction.

7. Solar panel type Advantages Disadvantages
Monocrystalline
•High
efficiency/perform
ance
•Aesthetics
•Higher costs
Polycrystalline •Low cost
•Lower
efficiency/perform
ance
Thin-film
•Portable and
flexible
•Lightweight
•Aesthetics
•Lowest
efficiency/perform
ance

9. The materials which are
used for this purpose
must have band gap close
to 1.5ev. Commonly used
materials are-
 Silicon.
 GaAs.
 CdTe.
 CuInSe2

11. It works as sensors or
receivers mainly
It is used as power
source mainly
 A solar cell is a pn junction
device with no voltage
directly applied across the
junction(used with zero
bias).
 The solar cell converts
photon power into electrical
power and delivers this
power to a load.
 A photodiode is a pn
junction diode operated
with an applied reverse
biased voltage.
 We will initially consider a
long diode in which excess
carriers are generated
uniformly throughout the
semiconductor device.