An Introduction to Solar Cells

This work describes a laboratory practice centred around the demonstration of the photovoltaic effect and its application for renewable energy production. Several experiments are proposed to allow students to investigate how a PV cell works and how irradiance, load resistance, temperature, and light trapping mechanisms can affect its performance. Additionally, students can be introduced to the quantum nature of light and how it relates to the behaviour of semiconductor devices, by exploring how the incident light colour affects power output.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring photovoltaic effect through simple experiments

Francisco,

Salgueiro da Silva,

Cavadas

et al. 2023

“…In order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and hydrocarbon emissions into the atmosphere which leading to the global warming, renewable cells are very familiar to the public and the applications of PV panels can be seen in our everyday lives, such as calculators, weather stations, outdoor solar street lamps or panels on rooftops [3]. The ubiquity of solar cells has made them objects of interest in science and engineering education [4][5][6][7]. Nowadays, many high school or undergraduate physics classrooms and laboratories have produced experimental or practical works on solar cells [3,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real-time measurement of the current–voltage characteristics of a solar cell for laboratory experiment

Wang¹,

Luo²

2023

The sensors and data acquisition universal interface provide more powerful choices for experimental teaching. In this paper, we introduce a teaching experimental setup that uses current and voltage sensors combined with universal interface to realize real-time automatic measurement of solar cell current–voltage characteristics. The current–voltage (I–V) and power–voltage (P–V) curves at various distances from the light source can be easy and fast obtained. At the same time, the effect of temperature on the electrical performance of photovoltaic modules can also be directly demonstrated using the cooling fan. Compared with the data read by ammeter and voltmeter, the experimental setup we built can enable students to obtain data faster under the same experimental conditions. We suggest that the real time I–V and P–V curves can help students experiment with the output characteristics of solar cells directly and allow them to relate electrical concepts such as short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage and maximum output power to the operation of the solar cells.

“…A thorough introduction to the physics of solar cells for physics teachers at a secondary school or university level is presented by Feldman (2010).…”

Section: Introduction To Photovoltaic Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A photovoltaics module for incoming science, technology, engineering and mathematics undergraduates

Dark¹

2011

Photovoltaic-cell-based projects have been used to train eight incoming undergraduate women who were part of a residential summer programme at a women's college. A module on renewable energy and photovoltaic cells was developed in the physics department. The module's objectives were to introduce women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors to physical phenomena, to develop quantitative literacy and communication skills, and to increase the students' interest in physics. The students investigated the performance of commercially available silicon semiconductors through experiments they designed, carried out and analysed. They fabricated and tested organic dye-based solar cells. This article describes the programme, the solar cell module, and presents some experimental results obtained by the students.