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Photovoltaic Cells

Photovoltaic Cells. Parth Bhide. Summer Research. What is a Photovoltaic Cell? How do Photovoltaic Cells Work? Why are Photovoltaic Cells not 100% Efficient? What Technologies and Materials Help Boost the Efficiency of Photovoltaic Cells. The Use of Nanotechnology.

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Photovoltaic Cells

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  1. Photovoltaic Cells Parth Bhide

  2. Summer Research • What is a Photovoltaic Cell? • How do Photovoltaic Cells Work? • Why are Photovoltaic Cells not 100% Efficient? • What Technologies and Materials Help Boost the Efficiency of Photovoltaic Cells. • The Use of Nanotechnology Microsoft Office Clip Art

  3. What is a Photovoltaic Cell? • A photovoltaic (PV) cell. Uses energy in photons (solar energy) and converts it to electricity. • Most PV cells contain the semiconductor silicon. • The silicon found in PV cells is unpurified (doped) with boron and phosphorous using an ion implanter. http://www.petervaldivia.com/technology/projects/helicopter/images/

  4. How do Photovoltaic Cells Work? • The silicon doped with phosphorous creates a negative charge (n-layer), and the silicon doped with boron creates a positive charge (p-layer). • The junction between the layers allows for the passage of electrons from the n-layer to the p-layer. • As photons excite electrons, the electrons move from the n-layer to the p-layer, through a separate wire, creating electricity. http://sustainableenergysystemz.com/wp-content/uploads

  5. Why are Photovoltaic Cells not 100% Efficient? • The efficiency of PV cells depends on many factors. • Band Gap- The amount of energy needed to break electrons from their atoms. • Impurity Ratio- To prevent recombination of electrons into other nuclei. • The reflection of light off the silicon cells. http://www.petervaldivia.com/technology/projects/helicopter

  6. What Technologies and Materials Help Boost the Efficiency of Photovoltaic Cells. • To widen the band gap range, research is being done to use different materials and combinations of ions to increase the usable energies of photons. • With the challenge of new materials comes the challenge of maintaining basic particle and chemical interaction. • Layers of antireflective materials to prevent the reflection of incoming photons http://pveducation.org/pvcdrom/design/anti-reflection-coatings

  7. The Use of Nanotechnology • Nanotechnology is being developed in photovoltaic advancement • Nano-sized holes, smaller than photons used to keep light from being reflected. • Odd geometry and small 100-nm holes to increase the anti-reflectivity. • Underdeveloped technologies, including a paint that acts as a solar cell. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_silicon

  8. My Summer • My mom and I went to visit our relatives and go sightseeing in India.

  9. Conclusion • Photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into electrical energy. • Although complex, PV cells remain approximately 20% efficient and very expensive. • Different materials and structures can influence the efficiency of the cell. • Several factors that need to be improved are antireflectivity, compositional uniformity, and band gap of the material.

  10. References • "How Solar Energy Works." Http://www.ucsusa.org/. Union of Concerned Scientists, n.d. Web. <http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/how-solar-energy-works.html>. • Kiger, Patrick J. "Sun Plus Nanotechnology: Can Solar Energy Get Bigger by Thinking Small?" National Geographic Daily News. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 2013. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/04/130429-nanotechnology-solar-energy-efficiency/>. • Knight, Matthew. "New Nano Coating Boosts Solar Efficiency." CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 2013. <http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/11/06/solar.coating/>. • "Photovoltaic Cell Conversion Efficiency." Eere.energy.gov. United States Department of Energy, n.d. Web. <http://www.eere.energy.gov/basics/renewable_energy/pv_cell_conversion_efficiency.html>. • Preuss, Paul. "A Step Closer to the Optimum Solar Cell." A Step Closer to the Optimum Solar Cell. Science Beat, n.d. Web. 2013. <http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/sb-MSD-multibandsolar-panels.html>. • Rubin, Leonard, and John Poate. "Ion Implantation in Silicon Technology - The Industrial Physicist." Ion Implantation in Silicon Technology - The Industrial Physicist. The Industrial Physisist, n.d. Web. 2013. <http://www.aip.org/tip/INPHFA/vol-9/iss-3/p12.html>. • "Types of Silicon Used in Photovoltaics." Energy Basics:. US Department of Energy, n.d. Web. 2013. <http://www.eere.energy.gov/basics/renewable_energy/types_silicon.html>.

  11. Questions? Microsoft Office Clip Art

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