Photovoltaic cells, or solar cells are devices that use photovoltaics to convert light into electricity at the atomic level, using a property known as the photoelectric effect, which causes a photovoltaic material to absorb photons of light and release electrons, which are then captured. Resulting in an electrical current.
French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerellar first demonstrated the photovoltaic effect. He is credited with developing the first solar cell that directly converted sunlight to electricity.
1860
William Adams pioneered the solar collection tower concept that is still used today. His award-winning book entitled Solar Heat: A Substitute for Fuel in Tropical Countries presented creative and practical improvements to Mouchout's system and new innovations. Adams advocated using small flat mirrors arranged in a semicircle that would each reflect the light to the central boiler mounted on a tower. The mirrors were mounted on a track that could be adjusted through the day to maximize collection.
1866
Auguste Mouchout is credited with building the first device that directly converted solar radiation into mechanical power. His device used a solar reflector and a steam boiler to produce about 1/2 horsepower. He demonstrated it to Emperor Napoleon III in Paris, and received financial support to build a large solar engine in Algeria six years later. He refined his reflector, developed a truncated cone, built a tracking mechanism to keep the reflector following the sun and improved his boiler.
1870
Swedish-born engineer John Ericsson, developed a solar motor with similar design characteristics as Mouchout's. After that he built the first trough reflector collector system which is far easier to adjust and doesn't need complicated tracking mechanisms. His trough system is still used today as a great engineering compromise between peak collection and ease of use. John also developed the USS Monitor, improved propellers, and an independent hot air engine.
1876
William Grylls Adams and his student, Richard Evans Day, discovered that an electrical current could be created by exposing selenium to light.
1878
Auguste Mouchout demonstrated a new invention that used a redesigned version of his solar engine to run a condenser on a separate insulated box that was able to rapidly cool it down. He was awarded a medal for the accomplishment.
1883
Charles Fritts is credited with building the world's first rooftop solar array in New York in 1883. Unfortunately, he used selenium combined with an extremely thin layer of gold for his solar cells. This had a conversion efficiency of only 1%. It was not until the middle of the 20th century that practical solar cells were developed.
1885
Charles Tellier installed ten plates on his roof that used ammonia due to its lower boiling point and when heated by solar energy produced enough ammonia gas, which drove a water pump with enough power to pump 300 gallons per hour throughout the day. He is considered the father of modern refrigeration.
1905
Albert Einstein described the nature of light and the photoelectric effect on which photovoltaic cells are based, for which he proceeded to win the Nobel Prize.
1954
The first photovoltaic module was created by Bell Laboratories, it was created mainly as a test, or "Proof of Concept" of the technology, and was much too expensive for widespread use.
1958
The US Naval Research Laboratory launched Vanguard I. The US Government pioneered much of the early PV technology. Vanguard I was the first spacecraft to use solar cells.
1960s
NASA and others in the space industry began to use photovoltaic cells to provide power aboard spacecraft. Through these space programs, the technology quickly advanced and it's reliability became well known, more research followed, and costs began to decline.
1970
Photovoltaic technology became recognized as a potential source of power for non-space applications, costs continued to decrease.
2009
Myasaka and team published the first their report of their application of hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite absorbers in solar cells in 2006. The conversion efficiency was rather low, approximately 3.8%, due in part to the liquid electrolyte used and the open circuit voltage due to compromised interfacial chemistry and energetics.
Recent advancements
Many advancements have been made in this 36 year section, including the inclusion of photovoltaic cells on low-power electric devices, such as watches, radios, lanterns, and calculators, many different programs were started to provide grants and rebates to homeowners who install solar paneling on their homes, there have been many small-scale scientific tests and creations that all further our knowledge of photovoltaic cells, many of these are still under testing and are thought to have the potential to breach what is known as the "Shockley-Queisser" limit of 41% power efficiency for a single cell, as of today, they have yet to breach this limit, but some have managed efficiency above 20%.
Many of these have different structure from what is shown below in the "How do they work" section, often having many layers of wafers to capture excess light, these are often referred to as "Third-generation photovoltaic cells".
Here are some of the 3rd generation cells.
Copper zinc tin sulfide solar cells (CZTS)
Organic solar cells
Perovskite solar cells
Quantum dot solar cells
Polymer solar cells
Dye-sensitized solar cells
A recent advancement known as "concentrator photovoltaics (CPV)", uses high-efficient, multi-junction solar cells in combination with optical lenses and a tracking system to provide higher efficiencies (commercial efforts have reached spikes of up to 42% efficiency).
How do they work?
Photovoltaic Cell
As stated in section 1 above, they use a property known as the "Photoelectric Effect" which causes the material to absorb photons of light and release electrons, which can be captured, releasing an electrical current, this process generates electricity.
Courtesy of Nasa.govhttps://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2002/01/01/solarcells_resources/cell.gif
This diagram illustrates how a basic cell operates, most cells are made of the same kinds of semiconductor materials that are used in microelectronics (silicon, for example). A thin semiconductor wafer is treated to form an electric field, with a positive opposite a negative, this forums an electrical circuit. The electrons are captured in the form of an electric current, this can then be used to power a device, such as a tool, or a light bulb.
Photovoltaic Module
Many cells connected to each other electrically and installed in a support or frame is called a module. These modules are designed to supply a specific voltage of electricity. The amount of current generated depends on how much light is directed at the module, these can be put together to form a larger "Array" for higher electrical output, this is what most home Solar Panels are, large arrays that are designed to provide enough power for an entire household to function during the day, and if the owner has a battery installed, they can store the excess energy for use at night.
Courtesy of Nasa.govhttps://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2002/01/01/solarcells_resources/array.gif
Photovoltaic cells
Photovoltaic cells, or solar cells are devices that use photovoltaics to convert light into electricity at the atomic level, using a property known as the photoelectric effect, which causes a photovoltaic material to absorb photons of light and release electrons, which are then captured. Resulting in an electrical current.
Contents
Photovoltaic cells | Contents | History | Recent advancements | How do they work?History
1839
French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerellar first demonstrated the photovoltaic effect. He is credited with developing the first solar cell that directly converted sunlight to electricity.1860
William Adams pioneered the solar collection tower concept that is still used today. His award-winning book entitled Solar Heat: A Substitute for Fuel in Tropical Countries presented creative and practical improvements to Mouchout's system and new innovations. Adams advocated using small flat mirrors arranged in a semicircle that would each reflect the light to the central boiler mounted on a tower. The mirrors were mounted on a track that could be adjusted through the day to maximize collection.1866
Auguste Mouchout is credited with building the first device that directly converted solar radiation into mechanical power. His device used a solar reflector and a steam boiler to produce about 1/2 horsepower. He demonstrated it to Emperor Napoleon III in Paris, and received financial support to build a large solar engine in Algeria six years later. He refined his reflector, developed a truncated cone, built a tracking mechanism to keep the reflector following the sun and improved his boiler.1870
Swedish-born engineer John Ericsson, developed a solar motor with similar design characteristics as Mouchout's. After that he built the first trough reflector collector system which is far easier to adjust and doesn't need complicated tracking mechanisms. His trough system is still used today as a great engineering compromise between peak collection and ease of use. John also developed the USS Monitor, improved propellers, and an independent hot air engine.1876
William Grylls Adams and his student, Richard Evans Day, discovered that an electrical current could be created by exposing selenium to light.1878
Auguste Mouchout demonstrated a new invention that used a redesigned version of his solar engine to run a condenser on a separate insulated box that was able to rapidly cool it down. He was awarded a medal for the accomplishment.1883
Charles Fritts is credited with building the world's first rooftop solar array in New York in 1883. Unfortunately, he used selenium combined with an extremely thin layer of gold for his solar cells. This had a conversion efficiency of only 1%. It was not until the middle of the 20th century that practical solar cells were developed.1885
Charles Tellier installed ten plates on his roof that used ammonia due to its lower boiling point and when heated by solar energy produced enough ammonia gas, which drove a water pump with enough power to pump 300 gallons per hour throughout the day. He is considered the father of modern refrigeration.1905
Albert Einstein described the nature of light and the photoelectric effect on which photovoltaic cells are based, for which he proceeded to win the Nobel Prize.1954
The first photovoltaic module was created by Bell Laboratories, it was created mainly as a test, or "Proof of Concept" of the technology, and was much too expensive for widespread use.1958
The US Naval Research Laboratory launched Vanguard I. The US Government pioneered much of the early PV technology. Vanguard I was the first spacecraft to use solar cells.1960s
NASA and others in the space industry began to use photovoltaic cells to provide power aboard spacecraft. Through these space programs, the technology quickly advanced and it's reliability became well known, more research followed, and costs began to decline.1970
Photovoltaic technology became recognized as a potential source of power for non-space applications, costs continued to decrease.2009
Myasaka and team published the first their report of their application of hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite absorbers in solar cells in 2006. The conversion efficiency was rather low, approximately 3.8%, due in part to the liquid electrolyte used and the open circuit voltage due to compromised interfacial chemistry and energetics.Recent advancements
Many advancements have been made in this 36 year section, including the inclusion of photovoltaic cells on low-power electric devices, such as watches, radios, lanterns, and calculators, many different programs were started to provide grants and rebates to homeowners who install solar paneling on their homes, there have been many small-scale scientific tests and creations that all further our knowledge of photovoltaic cells, many of these are still under testing and are thought to have the potential to breach what is known as the "Shockley-Queisser" limit of 41% power efficiency for a single cell, as of today, they have yet to breach this limit, but some have managed efficiency above 20%.
Many of these have different structure from what is shown below in the "How do they work" section, often having many layers of wafers to capture excess light, these are often referred to as "Third-generation photovoltaic cells".
Here are some of the 3rd generation cells.
A recent advancement known as "concentrator photovoltaics (CPV)", uses high-efficient, multi-junction solar cells in combination with optical lenses and a tracking system to provide higher efficiencies (commercial efforts have reached spikes of up to 42% efficiency).
How do they work?
Photovoltaic Cell
As stated in section 1 above, they use a property known as the "Photoelectric Effect" which causes the material to absorb photons of light and release electrons, which can be captured, releasing an electrical current, this process generates electricity.
This diagram illustrates how a basic cell operates, most cells are made of the same kinds of semiconductor materials that are used in microelectronics (silicon, for example). A thin semiconductor wafer is treated to form an electric field, with a positive opposite a negative, this forums an electrical circuit. The electrons are captured in the form of an electric current, this can then be used to power a device, such as a tool, or a light bulb.
Photovoltaic Module
Many cells connected to each other electrically and installed in a support or frame is called a module. These modules are designed to supply a specific voltage of electricity. The amount of current generated depends on how much light is directed at the module, these can be put together to form a larger "Array" for higher electrical output, this is what most home Solar Panels are, large arrays that are designed to provide enough power for an entire household to function during the day, and if the owner has a battery installed, they can store the excess energy for use at night.References
Third Generation Photovoltaics
Shockley-Queisser Limit
NASA.gov
Albert Einstein's Nobel Prize
History of Photovoltaics