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| He named this phenomenon the "photovoltaic effect". This has since formed the basic process in which a solar cell converts sunlight into electricity. | | He named this phenomenon the "photovoltaic effect". This has since formed the basic process in which a solar cell converts sunlight into electricity. |
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− | === Uunderstanding a semiconductor === | + | === Understanding a semiconductor === |
| A semiconductor is a material that conducts current, but only partly. The conductivity of a semiconductor is somewhere between that of an insulator, which has almost no conductivity, and a conductor, which has almost full conductivity. Most semiconductors are crystals made of certain materials. E.g., Silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, etc. | | A semiconductor is a material that conducts current, but only partly. The conductivity of a semiconductor is somewhere between that of an insulator, which has almost no conductivity, and a conductor, which has almost full conductivity. Most semiconductors are crystals made of certain materials. E.g., Silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, etc. |
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| [[File:PV effect 2.png|none|thumb]] | | [[File:PV effect 2.png|none|thumb]] |
| [[File:PV effect 3.png|none|thumb]] | | [[File:PV effect 3.png|none|thumb]] |
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| Since no free charge carriers can rest in a position where there is a potential barrier, the regions on either sides of the junction now become completely depleted of any more free carriers in comparison to the N and P type materials further away from the junction. This zone around the '''PN Junction''' is now called the '''Depletion''' Layer. | | Since no free charge carriers can rest in a position where there is a potential barrier, the regions on either sides of the junction now become completely depleted of any more free carriers in comparison to the N and P type materials further away from the junction. This zone around the '''PN Junction''' is now called the '''Depletion''' Layer. |
| + | [[File:PV effect 4.png|none|thumb]] |
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| As the N-type material has lost electrons and the P-type has lost holes, the N-type material has become positive with respect to the P-type which has also turned negative. | | As the N-type material has lost electrons and the P-type has lost holes, the N-type material has become positive with respect to the P-type which has also turned negative. |
| + | [[File:PV effect 6.png|none|thumb]] |
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| ==== Generating current with Photons. ==== | | ==== Generating current with Photons. ==== |
| Now that we understand the concept of depletion layer and the electric field generated. We now represent this basic diode form in the normal way a PV module was created. | | Now that we understand the concept of depletion layer and the electric field generated. We now represent this basic diode form in the normal way a PV module was created. |
− | | + | [[File:PV effect 6ok.png|center|thumb]] |
− | | + | [[File:PV effect current.png|none|thumb]] |
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| How then is the electric current generated? | | How then is the electric current generated? |