WORKING PRINCIPLE OF

SOLAR CELL
 GROUP TWO DME(SWC) –A

◦ What is solar cell Deepak (S2207)(3-5)

◦ Construction of solar cell
◦ Uses of solar in growing world
◦ Principle of working solar cell
◦ Semiconductor used in solar cell
◦ Advantage of solar cell
Dhanapal (S2208)(6-8)
Vishnu(S2209)(9-11)
Gokul(S2210)(12-16)
Hasan(S2211)(17-19)
jeevan (S2212)(20-22)
 What’s solar cell
◦ A solar cell (also known as a photovoltaic cell or PV cell) is defined
as an electrical device that converts light energy into electrical
energy through the photovoltaic effect. A solar cell is basically a p-
n junction diode. Solar cells are a form of photoelectric cell,
defined as a device whose electrical characteristics – such as
current, voltage, or resistance – vary when exposed to light.
◦ Individual solar cells can be combined to form modules commonly
known as solar panels. The common single junction silicon solar
cell can produce a maximum open-circuit voltage of approximately
0.5 to 0.6 volts. By itself this isn’t much – but remember these solar
cells are tiny. When combined into a large solar panel, considerable
amounts of renewable energy can be generated
Construction of solar cell
◦ A solar cell is basically a junction diode, although its construction it
is little bit different from conventional p-n junction diodes. A very
thin layer of p-type semiconductor is grown on a relatively thicker
n-type semiconductor. We then apply a few finer electrodes on the
top of the p-type semiconductor layer.
These electrodes do not obstruct light to reach the thin p-type layer.
Just below the p-type layer there is a p-n junction. We also provide a
current collecting electrode at the bottom of the n-type layer. We
encapsulate the entire assembly by thin glass to protect the solar cell
from any mechanical shock.
Uses of solar cell
Satellites
◦ Communications satellites require an electric power source
that is lightweight, lasts for years, and works in the vacuum of
space. Because solar energy is abundant above the earth’s
atmosphere, photovoltaic cells have proved an ideal solution
for powering satellites. They generate electricity continually
without the need for battery replacements or fuel; this is a
nearly-absolute requirement for satellites, as their main
Rooftop Solar Panels
◦ Many commercial and residential buildings have solar panels that produce electricity; in most cases, the
building gets its power primarily from a conventional utility connection, but the solar cells generate
enough power to reduce the owner’s conventional electric use and the associated electric bill. The solar
panel connects to a power management system that automatically switches to the utility when solar
power isn’t available.
◦ Off-Grid Power
◦ In addition to producing electrical power for the commercial grid, solar cells see wide use as an off-grid
energy source. For example, many traffic, emergency and construction road signs use solar cells for
power, reducing the need for gasoline-powered generators for remote and mobile uses.
Solar Power Farms
◦ United States government requirements including the Renewable
Portfolio Standards have mandated that electric utilities produce a
significant fraction of their power through renewable sources such
as solar energy. Facilities such as the Agua Caliente Solar Project in
Arizona produce electricity for local communities. When its final
phase is completed, the power plant will have more than 5 million
solar cells, producing a total of 290 megawatts of power. At the
time of publication, the United States has 9,360 megawatts of
electrical generating capacity from photovoltaic cells.
Principle of solar cell
◦ 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 region can quickly come to the n-
type side of the junction
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.

◦ 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.
 Principle of solar energy: photovoltaic
method
◦ Photovoltaic (PV) effect is the conversion of sunlight energy into
electricity .In a PV system, the PV cells exercise this effect. Semi-
conducting materials in the PV cell are doped to form P-N structure
as an internal electric field. The p-type (positive) silicon has the
tendency to give up electrons and acquire holes while the n-type
(negative) silicon accepts electrons.
 Principle of solar energy: thermal method
◦ The basic principle of solar thermal heating is to utilize the sun’s energy and convert it into
heat which is then transferred into your home or business heating system in the form of hot
water and space heating.The main source of heat generation is through roof mounted solar
panels which are used in conjunction with a boiler, collector or immersion heater. The solar
collector will use the sun’s rays to heat a transfer fluid which is usually a mixture of water and
glycol (antifreeze) which prevents the water from freezing. The heated water from the
collectors is pumped to a heat exchanger which would be inside the water tank in your home.
The heat from the exchanger will then heat the water inside the tank. After the liquid releases
its heat, the water will flow back to the collectors for reheating. A controller will ensure that
the fluid will circulate to the collector when there is sufficient heat available.
Photovoltaic method diagram
Semiconductor used in solar cell
◦ The materials which are used for this purpose must have band gap
close to 1.5ev. Commonly used materials are-

Silicon.
GaAs.
CdTe.
◦ CuInSe2
◦ Silicon
◦ silicon solar cell is a photovoltaic cell made of silicon semiconductor material. It is the most
common type of solar cell available in the market.
◦ The silicon solar cells are combined and confined in a solar panel to absorb energy from the
sunlight and convert it into electrical energy.
◦ These cells are easily available in the market and are widely used due to their cost-effective
pricing. They have a lifespan of over 25 years and can function without requiring high
maintenance. Due to these benefits, they play a crucial role in the solar panel market.
.GaAs.

GaAs technology and its use in solar cells

Gallium arsenide is a compound of the gallium and arsenic elements. As
previously mentioned it is a III-V direct band gap semiconductor material.
Gallium arsenide is used in the manufacturing process of numerous advanced
devices like the monolithic microwave integrated circuits, microwave frequency
integrated circuits, infrared light emitting diodes, optical windows, laser diodes
and most importantly the solar cells. GaAs is as a substrate material for epitaxial
growth of other III-V semiconductors, including aluminum gallium arsenide,
indium gallium arsenide, and others.
Advance of solar cell
An energy source that is both renewable and inexhaustible by definition
◦ It is true that the yellow dwarf that gives our solar system its name won’t live
forever. In fact, in four or five billion years’ time, it will come to the end of its
main sequence and become unstable. In the meantime, however, and on a time
scale that is more relevant to us, the sun remains an unchangeable and
inexhaustible source of energy: day after day, year after year, it is and will
always be there, always exactly the same
Technological versatility
◦ Solar energy’s versatility also extends to its technology. The first thing that springs to mind is
photovoltaic panels, but solar energy can also be used to create thermal energy by heating fluids,
or by combining both types in the most modern thermodynamic solar power plants.
◦ Everywhere gets sunlight
◦ It might seem trivial, but the fact that every single area of the Earth gets sunlight to a greater or
lesser extent offers a twofold advantage. First and foremost, sunlight is an energy source that can
be used anywhere on the planet and even gets to places with no infrastructure or connections:
hence in isolated, rural areas, places that are remote or difficult to get to, the sun is always a good
option.
It’s very well suited to batteries and the electricity grid
◦ Photovoltaics produces energy mainly in the middle part of the day, but thanks to larger, more efficient
and reliable storage systems, we’re better able to manage the discrepancy between energy demand and
what the sun provides naturally. Although there may be differences from country to country, generally
speaking, solar energy, particularly where photovoltaic technology is used to generate it, can be
transferred directly to the electricity grid. This makes things like energy communities possible and allows
private individuals and businesses to send the excess energy they produce to the market, guaranteeing
them not only savings but also a source of income. There is an important social advantage as well,
because that energy becomes immediately available to populations in areas of the world that previously
didn’t have access to traditional electrical networks, such as in Africa