Welcome to understanding photovoltaic cells! These remarkable devices convert sunlight directly into electrical energy through a process called the photovoltaic effect. When sunlight hits a solar cell, it generates electricity that can power our homes and devices.
The first step is light absorption. When photons from sunlight strike silicon atoms in the solar cell, they transfer their energy to electrons. Each photon carries energy equal to h times nu, where h is Planck's constant and nu is the frequency. If this energy exceeds the material's bandgap, the electron gains enough energy to break free from its atomic bond, creating a free electron and leaving behind a positively charged hole.