Solar cell (original) (raw)

A solar cell made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer with its contact grid made from busbars (the larger strips) and fingers (the smaller ones) A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. It is a form of photoelectric cell, defined as a device whose electrical characteristics, such as current, voltage, or resistance, vary when exposed to light. Solar cells are the building blocks of photovoltaic modules, otherwise known as solar panels.