Solar Cell

Description

Being a new device to generate electricity, Solar cell is also called Solar battery, solar panel, solar cell panel, solar cell plate and solar module. Profile, introduction, details, photo, history, application, notes and tips are presented on this page.

Also called 'photovoltaic cell, Solar cells is an equipment composed of various semiconductor materials (such as silicon) to convert sunlights into electricity via 'photovoltaic effect'.
In Germany, it is called 'Solarzellen' in Germany, '太阳能电池板' or '' in China, 'Cellules solaires' in France and 'Zonnepanelen' in Netherlands.
The main product on the market is crystalline silicon solar cells work with the photovoltaic effect. The thin-film cell based on photochemical effect just start its developing.
Solar cells is named in many ways; when you speak 'Solar battery', 'solar panel', 'solar module' or 'photovoltaic cells', actually we are talking about the same thing.

Being the main component of a solar cell, semiconductor is the part converting light into electricity.
Photovoltaic effect is a process occurs in some semiconducting materials, such as silicon. The semiconductor absorbs a photon, exciting an electron which can then be extracted into an electrical circuit by built-in and applied electric fields.

Solar Cells covers single crystal, polycrystalline and amorphous materials utilising homojunctions and heterojunctions, Schottky barriers, liquid junctions and their applications. As the materials range from amorphous (noncrystalline) to polycrystalline to crystalline (single crystal) silicon forms, we got a higher efficiency and a lower cost.
Unlike batteries or fuel cells, solar cells do not utilize chemical reactions or require fuel to produce electric power, and, unlike electric generators, they do not have any moving parts.

Realizing the advantage of renewable sources energy, solar power is included in the top of the renewable power list, which lead to an increasing of solar cell production.
The total annual solar energy reach the Earth is around 1,575 – 49,837 EJ, which is theoretically enough for the global energy usage.
Solar power can be expected to be the most important renewable source in near future; and the solar cell production will be expanded soon.

Outer Space
Solar cell do not need maintenance because there is no movable components, which make it widely used in providing energy for satellites or space stations.

Electric Power Station
Thousands of solar cells can be form into a electric power station, which convert sunlight into electrical energy to provide power to factory, market, school or local citizen.

House Roof
Solar cell is available to be installed by family on top of their house roof to provide daily electric power or profit from the electric power produced.

Isolated Equipment
Solar cell panels are often be installed on remote or isolated equipment to provide continuous electric power, such as Street lights, signal lights, monitoring equipment.

Portable Device
Small sized solar cells can be used on in consumer products, such as toys, desktop calculators, driving recorder and portable radios. Artificial light (such as fluorescent lamps) and sunlights can both be utilized.

High investment : The installation cost of solar panels are relatively expensive.
Seasonal energy : Strong sunshine is only available in limited period.
Weather-Dependent : Solar cell have to stop work in bad weather.
High request on roof : Not all roofs are available for solar cell.
Expensive storage: Solar energy storage is expensive.

- Make your solar cell stay away from open flames or flammable materials.
- Avoid bending or hitting with hard objects.
- The functional surface of solar panel need to be covered upon repairing. Insulated gloves is suggested.
- Check the solar cell and replace the damaged panel in time.