The photovoltaic effect creates electric current from electromagnetic radiation hitting a material, such as solar cells. Different types of radiation cause different levels of exposure, and the concept was first observed in 1902. Solar cells harness the effect by absorbing photons from sunlight and producing electricity. The technology is used for general power, spacecraft, and digital cameras.
The photovoltaic effect is the process by which electric current is created in the form of voltage when electromagnetic radiation is exposed to a certain material. Using solar cells, the photovoltaic effect occurs when very short wavelengths of sunlight hit matter and electrons become excited. Electromagnetic radiation is emitted by the solar panel and collected by another material. This expulsion of electrons causes voltage to build up creating energy that can be stored in a battery cell for later use. Two electrodes are used to collect the voltage, which can be transferred to the mains.
Different types of electromagnetic radiation cause different levels of exposure in solar cells due to frequency. Visible light creates the photovoltaic effect when it strikes alkali metals, ultraviolet light creates it in other metals, while extreme ultraviolet light is used for non-metals. This concept was first observed in 1902 by Philipp Eduard Anton von Lenard when he discovered that different colors of light, also known as frequencies, emit different levels of electrons. Previously, James Clerk Maxwell’s wave theory of light stated that the intensity of the radiation would create proportional electronic energy. This new theory explained that photons were responsible for creating the ejection of electrons and functioned as individual particles rather than constant waves.
Physicist AE Becquerel recognized the concept of the photovoltaic effect of sunlight in 1839, but his understanding was limited. In 1883, Charles Fritts built the first solar cell, using a selenium semiconductor coated with a thin layer of gold. This first use of a solar cell was only 1954% efficient. It wasn’t until XNUMX that Bell Laboratories developed a practical way to harness solar energy.
The way in which the photovoltaic effect is exploited using solar cells is very simple. Essentially, photons from sunlight impact the solar panel and are absorbed by the material. Negatively charged electrons within the material are pulled away from the atoms, which then produce electricity. This situation is controlled by allowing electrons to flow in only one direction in the panel, causing a reverse action in which positively charged particles flow in the opposite direction. With both of these actions occurring, a direct current of electricity can be harnessed by the electromagnetic reaction.
The photovoltaic effect is essential for a number of processes in modern life. In addition to creating general purpose power, solar cells are essential for spacecraft used by NASA and other space agencies. Furthermore, the principles of the technology are used in digital cameras in the form of charge-coupled devices and electroscopes that identify static electricity.
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