Solar cell
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that converts light energy into electrical energy. Sometimes the term solar cell is reserved for devices intended specifically to capture energy from sunlight, while the term photovoltaic cell is used when the light source is unspecified.
Fundamentally, the device needs to fulfill only two functions: photogeneration of charge carriers (electrons and holes) in a light-absorbing material, and separation of the charge carriers to a conductive contact that will transmit the electricity. This conversion is called the photovoltaic effect, and the field of research related to solar cells is known as photovoltaics.
Solar cells have many applications. They have long been used in situations where electrical power from the grid is unavailable, such as in remote area power systems, Earth-orbiting satellites and space probes, consumer systems, e.g. handheld calculators or wrist watches, remote radiotelephones and water pumping applications. More recently, they are starting to be used in assemblies of solar modules connected to the electricity grid through an inverter, often in combination with a net metering arrangement.
Solar cells are regarded as one of the key technologies towards a sustainable energy supply.
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[change] Three generations of development
[change] First
The first generation photovoltaic, consists of a large-area, single layer p-n junction diode, which is capable of generating usable electrical energy from light sources with the wavelengths of sunlight. These cells are typically made using a silicon wafer. First generation photovoltaic cells (also known as silicon wafer-based solar cells) are the dominant technology in the commercial production of solar cells, accounting for more than 86% of the solar cell market.
[change] Second
The second generation of photovoltaic materials is based on the use of thin-film deposits of semiconductors. These devices were initially designed to be high-efficiency, multiple junction photovoltaic cells. Later, the advantage of using a thin-film of material was noted, reducing the mass of material required for cell design. This contributed to a prediction of greatly reduced costs for thin film solar cells. Currently (2007) there are different technologies/semiconductor materials under investigation or in mass production, such as amorphous silicon, poly-crystalline silicon, micro-crystalline silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium selenide/sulfide. Typically, the efficiencies of thin-film solar cells are lower compared with silicon (wafer-based) solar cells, but manufacturing costs are also lower, so that a lower price in terms of $/watt of electrical output can be achieved. Another advantage of the reduced mass is that less support is needed when placing panels on rooftops and it allows fitting panels on light materials or flexible materials, even textiles.
[change] Third
Third generation photovoltaics are very different from the other two, broadly defined as semiconductor devices which do not rely on a traditional p-n junction to separate photogenerated charge carriers. These new devices include photoelectrochemical cells, Polymer solar cells, and nanocrystal solar cells.
Companies working on third generation photovoltaics include Xsunx, Konarka Technologies, Inc., Nanosolar and Nanosys. Research is also being done in this area by the USA's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (http://www.nrel.gov/).
[change] See also
[change] References
- McDonald SA, Konstantatos G, Zhang S, Cyr PW, Klem EJ, Levina L, Sargent EH (2005). "Solution-processed PbS quantum dot infrared photodetectors and photovoltaics". Nature Materials 4 (2): 138-42. PMID 15640806.
- PVNET European Roadmap for PV R&D Ed Arnulf Jager-Waldan Office for Publications of the European Union 2004
[change] Other websites
- Directory of Solar Cell Manufacturers
- Directory of Solar Cell Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers
- School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (Research lab of Prof. Martin Green et al.)
- Energex: Animation of how a solar cell works
- Carbon Nanotube Solar Cells (28 February 2005)
- Flexible Silicon Solar Cells (15 February 2003)
- Historical: Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion: An Update (M. Green, 1998)
- Howstuffworks.com: How Solar Cells Work
- Organic Photovoltaics and Materials — Overview
- Organic Solar Cells for the Near-Infrared Spectrum
- Photovoltaic Residential Benefits
- Photovoltaic Solar Panel Overview
- Photovoltaic Thin Films for the Full Solar Spectrum (W. Walukiewicz 2002)
- Pliable solar cells are on a roll
- Superefficient, Cost-Effective Solar Cell Breaks Conversion Records - 40.7 percent efficiency achieved (Scientific American, December 2006)
[change] Do-it-yourself
- PEC (Photo Electro Chromic)
- How to Build Your Own Solar Cell
- DIY (Do It Yourself): Nanocrystalline Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Kit Quote: "... sunlight-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency is between 1 and 0.5%..."
- Cuprous oxide solar cells