Solar Power: Photovoltaics. The Journey from Photons to Electrons

Introduction
Solar power is obtained mainly by the use of solar cells. The photovoltaic (PV) effect is the basic physical process through which a PV cell converts sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaics, as the word implies (photo = light, voltaic = electricity), convert sunlight directly into electricity.
It is one of the forms of solar cells, in which light falling on a two-layer semi-conductor device produces a photo voltage or potential difference between the layers. This voltage is capable of driving a current through an external circuit and thereby producing useful work.
…